Govt, stakeholders in crisis meeting over cement prices
What you need to know:
- Cement producers preferred not to speak in front of the camera and journalists who were in attendance were asked to leave until the meeting was concluded.
Dar es Salaam. The government on Wednesday August 15 called an emergency meeting with stakeholders in Dar es Salaam to discuss issues surrounding the rise of cement prices in the country.
Cement producers preferred not to speak in front of the camera and journalists who were in attendance were asked to leave until the meeting was concluded.
This reporter heard some of the stakeholders saying that they had grievances which they wanted to the express to the minister, truthfully but didn’t prefer that to be in an open meeting.
The closed-door meeting was chaired by the deputy minister for Industries, Trade and Investment Stella Manyanya who wanted producers to explain why there was scarcity of cement in the market.
"We conducted a quick survey in the market and established that cement isnot available and if you found it, it is sold at a high price," she revealed.
Ms Manyanya said the government was shocked by the rapid rise of cement prices but there was no strong reason from producers.
The meeting started at 6pm and it involved cement producers, coal, transporters and public institutions.
She said, “I don't want to be a dictator in this meeting.”
“We expected that since there are ongoing massive projects like SGR, the cement producers could increase the production but we are wondering why cement is not available currently," she said
She said the government understands the technical problems that may occur in one or two companies but not to all companies in the country.
She said the meeting is very serious and wanted the producers to speak the truth because after that the government would conclude and make decisions, adding that the decisions may be a tough depending on the response from them.
She added the government had been working hard to stop the importation of cement so that local manufacturers should increase production but what is happening in the market is very shocking.
"This meeting is purposely meant to come up with the main reason why cement is not available in the market, “she added
