Tanzanian authorities said on Wednesday it will launch a crackdown on sugar traders who have been hiking price.

Japhet Hasunga, the Minister for Agriculture, said the crackdown followed complaints from the public that traders sold the commodity higher than the indicative price set by the government.

"The crackdown will target one shop after another and traders who are found for hiking price of sugar will face the full force of the law," said Hasunga.

"If there are traders who think the crackdown is a joke, let them continue selling the commodity at a high price.

The rise in sugar price was allegedly attributed to traders who had hoarded the commodity in warehouses to create an artificial shortage.