Illegal sugar imports affecting sector growth

Tue, 04 Jul 2017 11:01:13 +0000

By MAILESI BANDA

 IILEGAL imports of sugar have continued to be a challenge to the local sugar production sector in the country, Zambia sugar marketing manager Cheembe Kawandami has observed.

Mr. Kawandami said the local market had been crowded with sugar from other countries while neighbouring countries were protecting the sugar production industries. He said the smuggled sugar was not helping growth in the sector as they tended to be cheaper than the locally produced sugar because they did not pay taxes.

“The country has been flooded with too many illegal sugar imports that are crippling the market and giving us unfair competition. It is the appeal of Zambia sugar to the Government to help in the regulation of the imports into the local market,” he said.

He explained that the borders were allowing the smuggled goods into the country, adding that if the sector was not properly managed it would affect the growth of local producers.

And the Minister of Works and Supply Matthews Nkhuwa challenged the private sector to formulate ways that would help stop illegal smuggling into the country. The minister said Government had challenges in regulating the smuggling in of goods due to the other routes that the smugglers created to bring in the goods.

“Government is facing a challenge with smuggling and as a way of reducing smuggling, we have intensified the laws by impounding vehicles and goods smuggled into the country and auctioning the vehicles to deter would-be offenders,” he said.