Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)
Nestorty Ngwega
18 May 2011
Tanga — TANGA City Council has launched a crackdown to nab retailers who sell sugar above the recommended 1,700/- per kilo.
A ‘Daily News’ random survey in parts of the town shows that most shops are selling the commodity at 2,000/- per kilo in total defiance of the government order not to hike the price.
A statement by the Municipal Executive Director, Mr John Gikene, said that the culprits would be fined.
He said that it was wrong for the traders to sell sugar at a high price without any legal justification.
“The government cannot just sit and watch when its directives are being ignored”, he said. He said it was a day light theft to sell the commodity at 2,000/- while supply by the local manufacturers has been good.
In another development, the City Council has allocated Pongwe area for small-scale traders. Mr Gikene said that the move aims to free Tangamano Square in the heart of the city which has been invaded by the petty traders.
He said that plans are on the drawing board to build a conference hall at Tangamano area. “If we will fail to prepare Pongwe grounds as planned, then we will look for another alternative when the petty traders would have moved from Tangamano”, he said.
About 300 petty traders use Tangamano square three times a week for selling their items due to lack of permanent area for their businesses.
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Hiked Sugar Price Draws Fire in Tanga