GMO MEALIE MEAL SAFE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, GOVERNMENT, MAZ SAY

GMO MEALIE MEAL SAFE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, GOVERNMENT, MAZ SAY

...we are only respecting the law,therefore, countries without similar laws like ours are free to consume GMOs says government spokesperson.

Mr. Mweetwa-Communication and Media minister

By Alfonso Kasongo
"GMO mealie meal is safe, as result of the law,we are just respecting the law and therefore, countries that do not have the law like ours are at liberty to resource that mealie meal and be able to supply and feed their communities," Zambia's Minister of Information and Media,Cornelius Mweetwa has said.

In an attempt to quench the ever escalating controversy surrounding the importation of mealie meal made from genetically engineered (GM) maize from South Africa, Mr. Mweetwa, who is also government spokesperson says Zambia only respect her  biosafety law to consume the GM mealie meal.

And Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) president Andrew Chintala also discloses that mealie meal made from genetically engineered maize from South Africa is safe for consumption but was quick to mention and discourage the importation of the such mealie meal as doing so will compromise the county's status of being 'Non GMO country'.

Mr. Andrew Chintala-MAZ president

" there is need to discourage the importation and consumption of the GMOs,otherwise we will compromise the law if we allow the importation of GMO," Mr. Chintala echoes.

Addressing the Journalists in Chililabombwe district of the Copperbelt province, during a round up of the fact finding tour on the placement of GMO mealie meal on the Zambian market,   yesterday, Mr. Mweetwa disclosed.. "Our conclusion from all the information that has been made present to ourselves with the presence of Milers Association of Zambia president and representations by various institutions of government  such as ministry of agriculture and other institutions that are interested in the safety of what we bring into this country,we now can pronounce that there is no evidence that GMO mealie meal that enters Zambia for onward transit to the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) finds itself in our country and anywhere within the jurisdiction of this country."

And the minister has accused opposition political leaders and some Civil Society organizations of spreading falsehoods that suggest the GMO mealie meal being imported by government owned,Eagle holding Milling from the Republic of South Africa for onward transmission to DRC is meant for local consumption.
Mr. Mweetwa, clarified and differentiated the packaging of the local mealie meal from the GMO being imported, saying despite both packaging being branded Eagle Milling, the one meant for importation into DRC is branded in black labels.
Meanwhile the locally manufactured ,meant for local consumption consumption is  labeled in green.
The minister further explained that "the GMO mealie meal from South Africa is expensive, almost twice the local price, therefore, it does not make sense for any business particularly ZNS to import  the product and distribute it on the local market with the price that  can not be competitive."

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