On Monday, Trade Minister Vitumbiko Mumba made a strong statement as he kicked off the nationwide rollout of Salima Sugar, announcing a crackdown on individuals hoarding sugar to create fake shortages and inflate prices for personal benefit.
Mumba didn’t mince words, labeling the offenders as a “selfish group of opportunists” disrupting the market. “We will find you and put a stop to this,” he declared. “Malawians will no longer be taken advantage of by those manipulating supply and prices. This ends now.”
The minister’s fiery comments came during the launch of a fresh distribution of Salima Sugar an effort to counter the recent sugar scarcity that pushed prices up to K6,000 per packet in some regions.
He emphasized that the Ministry of Trade is implementing firm actions to stabilize the market and ensure fair access to sugar, saying the time for unchecked exploitation is over.
Salima Sugar Company’s Executive Chairperson, Wester Kosamu, affirmed their commitment by announcing that more than 22,000 metric tons of sugar would be released into the market this year, with tight controls in place to stop it from being diverted to illegal traders.
“We’re keeping a close watch on the distribution process to make sure the sugar goes directly to consumers not into the hands of profiteers,” Kosamu said.
To support this large-scale distribution, the Transporters Association of Malawi has offered its services, sending out 20 large trucks to deliver the sugar from Salima to key retail locations across the country.
Association spokesperson Frank Banda noted that the 30-tonne trucks are already in action, and more will follow as needed. “We’re playing our part in solving this crisis. People shouldn’t suffer because of selfishness or transport issues,” he said.
With the government intensifying its crackdown, Mumba had a final message for those behind the crisis: the crackdown is real, and it’s coming for you.
