Minister of Trade Vitumbiko Mumba has disclosed that the government has intercepted hundreds of bales of sugar during a series of operations targeting illegal traders in border areas.
According to Mumba, the operations, which involved the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), the police, and other enforcement agencies, uncovered “alarming levels of smuggling activity”.
“On Thursday, we intercepted hundreds of sugar bales being smuggled into Zambia. Today, we’ve confiscated another large batch, which has already been handed over to the police. These are coordinated operations under what we’re calling Operation Piece of Trade,” Mumba said.
He was speaking on Friday during a youth summit in Lilongwe
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He said the smuggling is orchestrated by vendors working with unscrupulous traders who are sourcing sugar in bulk from manufacturers and diverting it to neighbouring countries, including Zambia, Mozambique and Tanzania.
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“We have intelligence suggesting that some vendors are just fronts. There are bigger players behind them, buying in bulk directly from the manufacturers.
“We can’t say much yet, but investigations are underway,” Mumba said.
According to Mumba, the perceived sugar shortage on the domestic market is not due to production shortfalls but rather the activities of illegal traders.
He said of the key cases under prosecution involves a Burundian who is currently facing charges for illegal possession and smuggling of sugar.
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Mumba said the individual, who is also an illegal immigrant without proper documentation or business licences, was found with large quantities of sugar far beyond what he could afford or store personally.
“We suspect he is part of a wider network. But we’re working within the confines of the law. We’re not a rogue state—we follow legal processes, and that takes time,” he said.
In another case in Karonga, enforcement teams intercepted a truck allegedly transporting sugar for a well-known businessman.
The truck was caught attempting to offload sugar in Uliwa under suspicious circumstances.
“This is the second time the same truck has been caught. The driver gave conflicting statements about the destination of the sugar, and the owners of the truck and the consignment are also giving us contradictory information,” Mumba said.
He urged the public to report any suspicious sugar trade activities.
“We are doing everything possible to ensure that sugar reaches the local market and at fair prices. But we need the cooperation of citizens to root out these illegal networks. This is economic sabotage, and we are treating it as such,” he said.
Malawians have been expressing frustration over the unavailability of sugar in shops and the resultant rising prices, despite the reassurances from the government and producers of adequate
