Zanzibar is taking measures to alleviate financial strain during the holy month of Ramadan by removing value-added tax (VAT) from imported sugar, aiming to enhance affordability.
President Hussein Ali Mwinyi has called on traders to refrain from unjustified price increases, emphasizing that there are no valid grounds for inflating food prices.
The scarcity of sugar has led to a surge in prices over the past three months in Tanzania and its semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar, with authorities attributing the issue to low production.
While touring markets on Monday, President Mwinyi affirmed the government’s commitment to combat inflation. However, he highlighted that certain unscrupulous traders persist in artificially inflating prices, affecting locally produced staples such as cassava, fish, vegetables, and fruits.
He urged traders to cease unwarranted price hikes during Ramadan, acknowledging the hardship it imposes on the majority of the population, particularly the less privileged.
With Zanzibar’s predominantly Muslim populace, the upcoming month of Ramadan, characterized by fasting from dawn to sunset, underscores the significance of addressing economic concerns promptly.