President John Magufuli issued the
ultimatum when addressing residents of Katesh township in Hanang
District, Manyara Region. The president was on his way to Arusha from
Dodoma yesterday afternoon.
The head of state was commenting on the
scarcity of sugar in various areas across the country, something which
has also been associated with the rising prices of the commodity.
“There are some scrupulous business
people who have started sabotaging the nation’s economy through buying
large stocks of sugar from factories and instead of releasing it into
the market, they hide the consignment in order to make people suffer.
Consequently, the traders reap higher
profits due to escalating prices,” said Dr Magufuli. The president said
his government is already working on the issue and that all stocks of
sugar that are being hidden under cellars, will be uncovered and
distributed free of charge to local residents. The business people who
are currently hoarding sugar also risk having their licences revoked.
The “penalty for this serious case of
sabotaging the economy and playing with people’s lives, is that among
other legal steps, they will also never be allowed to operate anywhere
in Tanzania,” maintained the head of state.
As for the banned imports of sugar from
overseas, Dr Magufuli pointed out that, the same racketeers collude with
their overseas counterparts. They have been importing sugar that had
either been past its usage dates or about to expire and selling the same
to unsuspecting Tanzanians.
President Magufuli commences his Arusha
tour this weekend, starting with commissioning of Officer Cadets at the
Tanzania Military Academy in Monduli District today and inaugurating the
PPF Commercial Complex in Arusha City on Monday.
The president arrived in Arusha after
travelling by road from Dodoma, via Singida, Hanang and Babati in
Manyara Region and along the Arusha-Dodoma highway through Minjingu and
Monduli.
According to a report from the State
Information Agency (Maelezo), the president used the opportunity to meet
and address residents along the way. This is Dr Magufuli’s second trip
to Arusha after becoming president. He first visited the region last
January when he also commissioned Officer Cadets at Monduli