BULAWAYO – Sugar originating from Zimbabwe is being repackaged in Uganda and then exported as a “Ugandan product” to South Sudan, the country’s trade promotion body Zimtrade said on Tuesday.
Zimtrade director of operations, Rongai Chizema, told a business conference in Bulawayo that South Sudan was a virgin market which African countries were exploiting while Zimbabwe is not doing enough to tap into the market.
He said Uganda and Kenya were the biggest beneficiaries, supplying more than 75% of South Sudan’s needs.
“Because of the demand in Juba, we understand Zimbabwe sugar is now being repackaged in Uganda and sold in South Sudan. They benefit while we get nothing,” he said.
Zimbabwe is one of the biggest sugar producers in Africa at about 500 000 tonnes annually.
The industry exports more than 200 000 tonnes annually, mainly to the European Union.
Uganda, according to reports from the country, imports between 40 000 and 70 000 tonnes of sugar annually, but still exports to Kenya and South Sudan.
– The Source
