By NATION REPORTER
Government says the Genetical Modified Organisms (GMO) mealie meal to be imported from South Africa is not dangerous to human health and that Zambians have no cause to worry because the shortage of mealie meal problem shall be resolved in the shortest time possible.
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Thabo Kawana, the Ministry of Information and Media director spokesperson has assured Zambians that the GMO mealie-meal to be imported from South Africa was not dangerous to human health.
Government has decided to start importing mealie meal from South Africa in an attempt to address the shortage of the commodity that has hit most part of the country, forcing consumers to start panic-buying and causing a scramble in some cases.
But according to Mr Kawana, some biodiversity experts are said to have confirmed that GMO was only dangerous as a seed and not as processed product such as mealie meal.
“The issue of, say for example, South African mealie-meal been (being) of GMO maize does not arise as GMO is dangerous when it comes to seed and not processed mealie -meal. That is why importation of maize is not allowed but only that of mealie-meal. Bio Diversity experts will confirm that GMO is a danger as seed but not as processed product. That is why, for example colleagues, you eat everyday cornflakes, jungle oats, cerelac and more products you buy from the South African chain stores without a problem,” Mr Kawana said.
And Mr Kawana has warned anyone exporting mealie-meal was doing so illegally and that those whose contrabands should impounded shall have their mealie meal forfeited to the State and auctioned to the public. Mr Kawana has claimed that the shortage of the 25Kg bag of mealie meal on the market was but a remedial measure by the millers to help curb the rampant smuggling and that according him, the 10Kg and 5Kg bag of the commodity was not as profitable as the bigger bag.
“Kindly allow me weigh in and bring you to official speed on the shortage of 25kg bags of mealie meal on the market and exports/ smuggling out of the country of the same. The shortage of the 25kg on the market is part of the remedial measures employed by Millers to help curb the smuggling as 10 and 5kg bags are not profitable to smuggle hence unattractive to unscrupulous bulk buyers.”
Government has not issued any export permits in the last 4 months and all those trying to take out mealie-meal are doing so via smuggling and other illegal means and that is why their contrabands are been (being) confiscated and forfeited to the state together with the vessels used in transporting the same,” Mr Kawana said.
Mr. Kawana has warned smugglers of stern action once captured by law nnforcement agencies, stating that smugglers shall be prosecuted after losing their contraband including the vessels they were using to illegally transport their goods.
“Government has further allowed the private sector to import mealie meal only and not maize for both export and selling on the local market. Those intending to import for export for example from South Africa to Congo DRC shall have it easy as their contraband shall be considered as goods in transit hence having no problems exporting.”
“However, those intending to export our local maize and mealie-meal ought to get their permits from the Ministry of Agriculture which shall consider among other things, quantity before issuing permit. No duty shall be charged on the said imports so one can import countless quantities duty free,” Mr Kawana said.
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