As sugar scarcity continues to affect the country, several renowned social commentators have criticized Minister of Trade, Vitumbiko Mumba, for what they describe as “irresponsible” remarks regarding the issue.
Posting on his official Facebook page, Minister Mumba appeared to disagree with Illovo Sugar Company over the cause of the crisis.
While Illovo, the country’s leading sugar manufacturer, has attributed the shortage to smuggling and adverse weather conditions, Minister Mumba blamed the situation on sabotage.
“On sugar scarcity, sabotage is real — but we are on top of it. It will be history in no time,” Mumba wrote.
Following his post, several social media influencers — widely suspected to be politically aligned with the Minister — launched online attacks against Illovo and some sugar distributors, accusing them of being “the epicenter of a cartel.”
There are allegations that these influencers are being paid to discredit Illovo’s explanation and instead promote Mumba’s version of events.
Reacting to the controversy, Mzuzu-based social commentator and Executive Director of Youths for Action Campaign (YAC), Jackson Msiska, described Mumba’s remarks as an attempt to gain political mileage.
“Who should we trust on the cause of sugar scarcity — Illovo, the main manufacturer, or Minister Mumba, who should be presenting verified information to the public? The Minister is known for being forthright, so why has he failed to provide evidence of this so-called sabotage?” questioned Msiska.
Msiska further suggested that Minister Mumba may be influenced by internal political tensions within the cabinet and the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP), which could explain his “questionable” responses.
“The political infighting could end up hurting the entire nation, especially if senior government officials like Mumba do not act with caution. He should have consulted with Illovo before going public — but it seems he believes political enemies are targeting him,” Msiska added.
On social media, some Malawians have also expressed frustration, questioning why Minister Mumba frequently resorts to blame-shifting in the execution of his duties.
They noted that the same sugar distributors have worked with Illovo for years under various trade ministers, without being accused of wrongdoing.
Minister Mumba has yet to respond to the criticism and did not answer phone calls when contacted for comment.
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