Minister of Trade and Industry Vitumbiko Mumba has exposed the hoarding of sugar at Chipiku Plus, located in the Game Complex, Lilongwe.
The retail store had been claiming that sugar was out of stock, leaving shelves empty. However, during an inspection, Mumba and his team discovered that sugar was being withheld from customers.
Following the revelation, the minister ordered the immediate placement of all sugar on the shelves for sale. To ensure fair distribution, Mumba enforced a purchase limit of two packets per customer.
Mumba was accompanied by officials from the Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC), who are expected to take further action to prevent similar cases of hoarding.
The government has been closely monitoring essential goods availability amid concerns of artificial shortages caused by stockpiling.
