* Panicked shoppers try to stock up during coronavirus
crisis
* Cases rising on world's least developed continent
* Food prices rise in some markets, but Rwanda slaps
controls
* Panic-buying and queues from Kenya to South Africa
By Clement Uwiringiyimana
KIGALI, March 17 (Reuters) - Alarmed consumers thronged
markets across Africa on Tuesday, many in masks and gloves, to
stock up as the coronavirus spread on the world's poorest
continent.
Food prices rose in some parts, though at least one country,
Rwanda, sought to control costs of staple foods.
"It is as if people are preparing for war," said an
astonished shopkeeper as Rwandans clamoured for rice, cooking
oil, sugar and flour at a market in the capital Kigali.
"Prices have gone up - but still they buy."
Initially spared as the coronavirus battered China and then
spread out, Africa has seen a rush of cases this month and
governments are taking drastic measures to curb its spread. At
least 30 African nations have now reported more than 400 cases.
For many poorer Africans focused on surviving day-to-day,
panic-buying was a privilege they could not join in with.
The Rwandan shopkeeper, who declined to give his name
fearing a visit from inspectors, said Tanzanian rice in his
market had risen from 27,000 francs ($29) to 30,000 francs per
25 kg bag while Pakistani rice was up from 22,000 francs to
28,000 francs.
Speaking as shoppers in masks and gloves picked over items,
he blamed wholesalers for the increases.
The trade ministry in Rwanda, which has seven confirmed
coronavirus cases, fixed prices late on Monday for 17 food items
including rice, sugar and cooking oil. But it did not specify
punishments for price-gouging.
At the same Nyarugenge market complex in Kigali, 52-year-old
shopper Beatrice was exasperated by the price rises.
She has no job and a child to provide for.
"I am here to buy rice but I can't afford it," she said,
noting forlornly that rice had gone up even higher to 32,000
francs per bag by the time she was there.
"You can't see your children go hungry. I will buy it
anyway," she said. "We don't know when this coronavirus will
stop. If I had enough money, I would buy a lot more food."
SUPERMARKET SAYS SORRY
Kenya, a relative economic powerhouse in East Africa, also
saw a rush on shops after reporting its first coronavirus case
on Friday. Within minutes, shoppers at the upscale Carrefour
supermarket near the United Nations complex in Nairobi began
piling trolleys with wipes, sanitizer, and staples like rice and
long-life milk.
Tusky's, another Kenyan supermarket, urged customers not to
panic and this week launched a home delivery service.
Like Rwanda, Kenya stepped in to try and curb price rises.
Its Competition Authority ordered another chain, Cleanshelf
Supermarkets, to refund customers for overpricing hand
sanitizers. The firm blamed it on action of one staff member.
"The recent experience is unjustifiable and we are very
sorry," said Veronica Wambui, head of sales and marketing, in a
statement the company posted on Twitter.
From South Africa to Senegal, long lines snaked outside
stores as families stocked up on essential health and food items
from disinfectants to pasta.
Anna, the manager at Auchan supermarket in Dakar's upmarket
Mermoz area, told Reuters sales had doubled since last weekend.
Hand sanitizer had run out and suppliers were struggling to
fulfil orders, she said.
"The most sold items are pasta - people have taken
everything!" she said, adding that prices had remained the same
there, though many desperate shoppers were not even checking.
($1 = 943.7830 Rwandan francs)