South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
Several businesses in Torit town of Eastern Equatoria State, are struggling to keep afloat amid high inflation caused by the appreciation of the dollar against the local pound.
Juliette Wanjiku, a 40 year old mother of two children, who operates a hair saloon in Torit market, told The Dawn last week that currently she is not making enough money due to the drop in the number of her clients compared to last year.
“Previously, I used to be busy but now business is very low because customers are few, the cost of running business is high so you have to add some charges, you must try to increase to cover up,” Wanjiku said .
She revealed that she receives about 10 clients over the weekend, compared to the previous 30 when business was booming.
Sarah John, a 35 –year- old fruit and vegetable trader in Torit market, said that the high currency exchange rate in the market has increased the cost of doing business.
“I am just keeping myself busy but there is no profit, the high cost of running business has made us to increase prices,” John said.
The South Sudan Pound (SSP) was exchanging with the dollar at 2000 SSP, but the time this reporter visited Torit.
John said that most traders in Torit have hiked prices of their goods for fear of their businesses folding up.
Rose Achiro, 28, a resident of Torit said the local population is suffering amid the high prices of basic commodities, adding that the cost of living is far too high for many families to cope.
“When you borrow money these days, you may not be able to refund it,” Achiro said.
Lily Hidita Nartisio, the Chairperson of the Eastern Equatoria State Chamber of Commerce, blamed the rising prices on high taxation by customs officials.
“When it comes to goods which have been brought in from neighboring countries, they (customs) levy taxes in dollars, some traders sell their goods expensively because the South Sudan Pound has continued to weaken against the dollar,” Nartisio said.
She noted that the price of locally produced beans, sorghum and maize are unaffordable to many people in the State, despite the food being produces in nearby Magwi County.
