BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Consumer Association of Malawi (CAMA) has urged the Ministry of Trade to take immediate and decisive action to end the ongoing sugar shortages and soaring prices that continue to frustrate consumers across the country.

In a statement on Friday,CAMA Executive Director John Kapito said Malawians have endured prolonged, man-made sugar scarcities that have forced consumers to spend long hours searching for the commodity, often at inflated prices.

He noted that both Illovo Sugar Malawi and sugar distributors have shifted blame onto each other, leaving consumers trapped in a cycle of scarcity and exploitation.

Kapito criticized the Competition and Fair-Trading Commission (CFTC), which falls under the Ministry of Trade, for failing to effectively address what he described as unfair trade practices within the sugar market.

“The agency has failed to meet consumer needs and expectations despite its mandate to protect them,” he said.

According to CAMA, the persistent shortages have not only affected household consumers but have also disrupted the operations of small-scale traders who rely on sugar as a key production ingredient.

Kapito warned that Malawi cannot continue to be “held hostage by a commodity that is crucial in the lives of Malawians.”

He appealed to the Minister of Trade to urgently intervene, regulate, and stabilize the sugar market, and to find lasting solutions that will ensure reliable production and distribution.

Kapito added that CAMA stands ready to collaborate with the ministry to eliminate exploitative practices and restore order to the sector.

“Consumers have suffered for too long it is time to completely eliminate these challenges from the market and safeguard the interests of all Malawians.”he said.

The Maravi Post