Two government ministries have been contradicting each other on the best possible solution to deal with the alleged hoarding of sugar by vendors and the subsequent scarcity of the product on the market.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Richard Hara, says restricting unlicensed sellers--such as vendors-from selling sugar would hinder access for the majority of Malawians.

Hara says there is a need to deal with the secrecy in the sugar distribution first.

“Yes. We have the mandate to monitor and enforce laws, which we can but that’s not a solution to the Sugar shortage in the country. The ministry has to decentralize the issuance of licensees to suppliers rather than how this is being done now;” said Hara.

“Sugar distributors need to be investigated to find out how the Sugar is being supplied in the market,” he added.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Trade announced that it has penned the ministry of local government proposing a ban on vending of Sugar in the country as a solution to the scarcity of Sugar in the country.

Minister responsible, Vitumbiko Mumba said during a press briefing that they had observed that unlicensed vendors have used some individuals to purchase sugar in big shops before reselling at high prices.

Mumba proposed that only licensed dealers should be permitted to sell sugar in the country. He also lamented the hoarding of sugar and inflated prices of sugar as some of the challenges affecting sugar availability.

He said trucks transporting Sugar will now be accompanied by security officers and a tracking system to ensure Sugar is not being diverted to Tanzania and Zambia.

However, Executive Director for the Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA), John Kapito concurs with Hara, claiming there is a bigger culprit who is fueling the scarcity.

“Vendors are not the cause of this challenge. There are big culprits fueling this sugar scarcity. We need serious investigation to fish them out,” said Kapito.