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{
    "id": 521127,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/521127/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 181,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Ababu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 108,
        "legal_name": "Ababu Tawfiq Pius Namwamba",
        "slug": "ababu-namwamba"
    },
    "content": "The sugar sub-sector - and we are talking about the sugar-cane growers and the labourers whose livelihoods depend on those sugar companies - is truly troubled. Some of the reasons for the trouble are well known. Indiscriminate importation of cheap sugar from within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region and even as far places like Pakistan is a major factor for the challenges facing this sub-sector. So, we talk of privatisation, and perhaps that could be the direction to go, because we have tried other models and they do not appear to be working. So, perhaps, privatisation might be the panacea to this problem. However, we must also, as a country and as a Government, make the painful decision to put in place measures backed by legislation that can protect this sector. There is no reason why other agricultural sub-sectors like tea and coffee are doing better than this sub-sector. We have to protect this sector. What is sad is especially the challenge of importation of cheap sugar into this country which floods the market.This is a problem that is perpetuated by individuals in very influential places. So, Government must be very clear that even as we go privatisation, there will be a very firm commitment through policy, legislation and decisive action to protect those farms and the sub-sector generally. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}