The premier further said that another consignment of 35,000 tonnes of sugar is expected to be distributed in all the zones, urging businesspeople to sell it forthwith without hoarding it while the price should not exceed 2,200/-.
The premier said this on Friday when he hosted religious spiritual leaders, including members of the Dar es Salaam Interfaith Peace Committee, during a special feast to mark the beginning of the Month of Ramadhan.
He reported that sugar factories have already started production and that the 300 tonnes, which will be distributed in Kakonko, Kibondo, Kasulu, Uvinza and Kigoma districts to mitigate the shortage came from Kagera Sugar Limted.
Meanwhile, Mr Majaliwa has ordered all trade officers in the councils to continue making a follow-up in the shops to ensure that the commodity is available and no one is hoarding it.
In another development, the PM has asked all businesspeople in the country to stop inflating prices of food during the Holy month of Ramadhan. Speaking on the characteristics of some businesspeople whose desire is to inflate the prices, especially of food items during the holy month, the premier called upon such unscrupulous people to fear God, because such acts created hardships to those who are fasting.
“Fasting is not a luxury neither is it an act of aggrandizement; but is a spiritual undertaking and obligation. Therefore, it is wise that we should not inflate the price of goods for the sake of punishing Muslims … just because the faithful went on fasting,” he remarked.
He also emphasised that in Surat Al- Baqarah 2:183 in the Holy Quran God says: “O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.”
He also said that price inflation which occurs time and again during the months of Ramadhan is not ethical. He ordered that such practices that are condoned by some unscrupulous business people should stop, as the government will not tolerate them and stern measures will be taken against such individuals.
Recently, the prime minister assured Tanzanians of adequate sugar stock during the holy month of Ramadhan, stressing that the sweetener will be sold at 2,200/- per kilogramme.
Muslims in Tanzania joined their counterparts in the world to observe 30 days of fasting during the month as per teachings of the Holy Quran. Sugar is an important ingredient in preparation of Iftar, numerous types of meals used when breaking the fast.