GMO DEBATE IN ZAMBIA EXPOSES BIOTECHNOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE GAPS

GMO DEBATE IN ZAMBIA EXPOSES BIOTECHNOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE GAPS

Veronica Mwaba-Director DSaT 


By Alfonso Kasongo 
A Zambian non-governmental organisation championing the use of science and technology DSaT says the debate on the national Biosafety and Biotechnology policy in the country has exposed some knowledge gaps on the issues surrounding the use and growing Modified Organisms (GMOs).

Dziwa Science and Technology Trust (DSaT) is therefore imploring Zambian government to make deliberate efforts and build capacity in journalists as key communicators to interrogate scientific papers. 

Organisation Executive Director Veronica Mwaba,who is a 2018 Alliance for Science Global Leadership Fellow and founder the DSaT, observes that journalists  should be equipped with knowledge  especially on complex matters surrounding the GMOs.

It is the desire of DSaT to have journalists skilled in science communication so that they can effectively communicate more  on the subject matter (GMO) among other scientific matters for the good of stakeholders and policy makers, Ms Mwaba said.

She notes that Research has shown that GMOs are a reality in Africa disclosing that about 10 countries have settled for the GMO technology hence reiterating the need for Zambia to bring all key stakeholders under one platform to debate on matters of biotechnology. 


Meanwhile Ms. Mwaba said the debate on zambia's new biosafety and biotechnology draft policy remains crucial reiterating the need for a meaningful discourse on  the subject matter adding that key actors should  debate from an informed perspective that is backed up with scientific evidence. 

"Overall there is need to build capacity in the media to report on modern Biotechnology.  Therefore, media will assist to bridge the information gap associated with GMOs. In addition, heightened sensitisation on GMOs allows policy and society to make informed choices to select what could work for the country or individuals. Evidence-based science that benefits society is the way to go and should not be hijacked with misinformation" Ms. Mwaba said.

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