The Minister of Trade and Industry, Vitumbiko Mumba, has assured Malawians that the Government is addressing the shortage and price hike of sugar in the country.

The Minister made the remarks during a press briefing with Salima Sugar and Illovo Sugar production companies in Lilongwe on Wednesday.

“Vendors are selling sugar at K6,000 per kilogramme, double the official prices of K2,900 by Salima Sugar and K3,000 by Illovo.

“The government has come up with short-term and long-term solutions to combat the sugar price hikes. Some of these solutions include having security forces accompany trucks transporting sugar to supermarkets to prevent diversion and ensure the product reaches its intended destination.

We have also suggested to the Ministry of Local Government that vendors without licenses be banned from purchasing sugar.” Mumba said.

The Minister further condemned the illegal selling of sugar at skyrocketing prices and blamed companies for potentially hoarding sugar to hike prices.

On his part , Illovo Sugar Managing Director Kondwani Msimuko attributed the sugar scarcity to changes in rain patterns affecting production schedules and asked Malawians not to panic.

Salima Sugar Executive Chairman Wester Kosamu, revealed that the company has released 13 trucks of sugar to cater to the Northern, Southern, and Central regions.

He emphasised that Salima Sugar would no longer work with distributors that divert sugar to unauthorised stores or vendors.