Many Buyers in Torit have raised their concerns, saying traders have exaggerated prices as Christmas approaches and they cannot afford.
The prices of clothes and food commodities are increasing almost every day, causing anxiety in families.
As the world prepares for Christmas, families prefer buying clothes, food and drinks to celebrate with their loved ones during the occasion.
The biggest concern in families is the current prices which they say have doubled and will make them not to enjoy the festive seasons compared to previous years.
Christine Lawrence is a guardian to five children. She says prices of clothes range from 3,000 SSP and above which she cannot afford, especially at this current economic crisis.
Christine was talking at Torit Market. ‘In this Christmas season, I have five children. These are children of my Aunt. There are five children all staying with us and we are thinking what we are going to do because my neighbour’s children have their clothes already. Clothes in the market are expensive. It ranges from three thousand South Sudanese pounds and above’
Helen Abau is a resident of Longute in Torit town; Abau says every child desires to wear new clothes during Christmas.
She says the current salary for civil servants do not meet market demands.
‘Concerning the prices of goods in the market, things are going high but what can we do because this is once in a year am seeing mothers preparing, fathers are also preparing so that children wear new clothes but prices of goods in the market are high. Everything is too high. Everything ranges from three thousand and above. Things are very expensive and this government money we are earning is too little’.
Meanwhile John Mustafa, a businessman in Torit market, says prices increase when the USD exchange rate increases. 100 US dollars in the black market is equivalent to 31,000.
‘The issue of the USD sometime it rises up that is why things are really going high. Some of the prices like onion and sugar are becoming high because of the exchange rate. Secondly how to get dollar is not easy here’.
Mustafa urges customers to understand the reasons why prices of goods are on increase.
‘Sometimes some of the people are complaining when they come to the market. They say our government is not serious when they see some of the things at the market. They go to complain to the Mayor, telling the Mayor that anything at the market is increasing. As the owners of the business or as the business person at the market, we want to tell our people to know that our country is still low. You must understand the business people at the market. If something is increased, you must ask the owners of the business what the problem is, these days.’
A grade 14 civil servant in Torit State earns less than 1500 SSP which can only buy 3 bowels of grains but not for the whole family.