I will fault the directorate of Sugar sitting under AFA over the current shortage and high prices. How they did not forecast the shortage is still a mystery since all the top 5 sugar millers in the country have been struggling for the last 4 years. Production did not even show signs of stabilizing.

The second mistake which AFA, and by extension the government,have made is to issue 160 sugar importing licenses to individuals!!. How did that happen?. We know that 3 key sugar millers are struggling with raw material shortage and some are stopped for long periods due to this particular reason. They have asked the government for bailout money amounting to billions to be repaid once production resumes. The thing to do would have been to issue the millers with import licenses commensurate with their capacities and allow them to package the sugar under their brands. The government would then have been able to get back it's money,it would not have had to bail out anyone, the millers would be assured of survival and we would be guaranteed of sugar prices coming down within weeks. Who advises our leaders?

Maybe i am just plain stupid!. It's not about the consumer anyway

I partially agree in that, previously, the shortage would be artificial to allow barons to import hence finance campaigns. This year, it's a real shortage which will last many months with harsh ramifications. The measures put in place are rather poorly thought,silly and laughable to say the least.

Under the old sugar board, a few millers had the licenses to take care of emergencies but i think under AFA, conditions for licensing might have changed. I am not sure but whatever the case, someone should have advised the government that overall sugar production in the country this year was not going to be anywhere near a quarter of previous years. Never mind that the reasons for this poor performance is not being talked about.

The other thing i find funny is that we are allowing a handful of Asian owned sugar millers to export molasses while the country's ethanol plants grind to a halt. EABL,Keroche and other blenders have to bring in ENA from South Africa thus spending millions of much needed dollars. Needless to say, the SA ethanol is of inferior quality and that may explain why your drink tastes strange of late.....And how does SA keep it's ethanol plant running? Centralized operations and a tight control on production!! Many state employees in this country are paid to do nothing! nkt! .It's as if they feel pain in their heads any time they attempt to think

I want to caution here. The 160 individuals licensed to import are supposed to declared the country of the sugar's origin. END! Quality?. what quality? I have seen how this sugar is handled and stored elsewhere and i am not sure anybody is safe taking whatever will come in given that the poorer the quality the better the profits. Sugar in my tea?. I am out!

Sir ,with due respect i don't have have any valid points to add to your plights. Please give them 5 more years and we promise to change the way cartels run the country . We will kick them out on that august morning . You are welcome