Chronicle Editor
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Sugar Association (ZSA) has said the country has adequate sugar on the market, dismissing reports that there could be a shortage of the commodity.
A snap survey conducted by Sunday News in Bulawayo last week in different supermarkets revealed that shops were only selling one kilogramme sugar packets with customers allowed to buy only two packets. However, ZSA chairman, Mr Muchadeyi Masunda allayed fears that there could a sugar shortage, saying the milling season began last month.
“We can rest assure the market that there is no shortage of sugar with both Triangle and Hippo Mills having resumed milling at the beginning of the new milling season in April,” said Mr Masunda.
Mr Masunda said there was an opportunity for the sugar industry to double its installed capacity of producing 800 000 metric tonnes of raw sugar as all the key ingredients were in place. These include vast tracts of land in the Lowveld, a fairly sophisticated water irrigation system in place and the commissioning of the huge Tugwi-Mukosi Dam in May 2017 has made it possible to open up another 25 000 hectares of sugar estates among others.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter