President Mwanawasa has ordered the immediate issuance of a statutory instrument to curb the smuggling into the country of suspected genetically modified agricultural products.
Mr Mwanawasa has directed Minister of Science, Technology and Vocational Training, Peter Daka to issue the statutory instrument.
The President issued the directive in Lusaka yesterday when he officially commissioned the Genetically Modified Organisms National Referral Laboratory of the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research at Mount Makulu Research Station.
Mr Mwanawasa said Government would maintain its stand against genetically modified organisms and would continue rejecting them.
He also explained that the statutory instrument should spell out how to control the importation of agricultural chemicals.
The President said the statutory instrument should certify dealers of herbicides and other agricultural chemicals and curb smuggling of the products into the country.
Mr Mwanawasa said Mr Daka should also table a bill in Parliament so that the statutory instrument could become an Act of Parliament.
“All dealers in herbicides and other agricultural chemicals should get certified because it is very important that we protect the environment.
It is also important that our people are protected from eating genetically modified food which can affect their health,” Mr Mwanawasa said.
Mr Mwanawasa said in 2002, the world spotlight was focused on Zambia and in many cases Government was misunderstood as having rejected biotechnology.
He brushed aside the misunderstanding, saying Government was only cautious with technological transfer, especially regarding genetic modification of food crops.
The President said some institutions in Zambia were studying genetic engineering because genetic modification was not the only product of biotechnology.
Mr Mwanawasa said the whole world was aware of the implications resulting from products of modern biotechnology like genetic engineering on human and animal health and the environment.
“Therefore, as a Government, we would rather be cautious and not venture into the unknown.
My Government fully appreciates the centre stage biotechnology is taking and will continue to take in the 21st century and beyond,” he said.
He said Government was, on the other hand, criticised by some local sections of society that wanted it to reject the donated maize on grounds that its effects on people’s health was uncertain.
Mr Mwanawasa said since his Government was just in its first year in office; it was difficult to make a decision on whether to accept such donated maize.
“But the interesting part on this matter was that some of the countries which wanted Zambia to accept GM maize later came to donate non-GM maize to us after we rejected the GM one.
They wanted to use Zambians as guinea pigs,” the President said.
He said in 2004, Government with the support of Norway embarked on a capacity building programme that resulted in the commissioning of the GM detecting laboratory at Mount Makulu.
Government contributed K1.9 billion for infrastructure development while Norway released US$400,000 for the purchase of equipment, legislative processes, staff training and public awareness.
The President urged the Ministry of Science and Technology to ensure that the laboratory was used optimally especially in examining products that farmers utilised.
And Norwegian ambassador to Zambia, Terge Vigtel, commended Government for the bold decision of rejecting GM maize in 2002 in the midst of food shortages in the country.
Dr Vigtel said the decision led to the commissioning of the referral GM detecting laboratory at Mount Makulu.
He pledged his Government’s continued support in various development sectors in Zambia, including the biotechnology industry.
LPM, how do you espect Peter Daka to perform national duties when his marriage is in shambles and still busy chasing the ex-boy friend of his young second wife.
It’s really stupid to talk about GMs when most of the food stuff in shoprite are GMs from RSA who has seen loop holes in the trading system with MMD govt. LPM, when you talk about GMs,try to avoid limiting your thinking capacity in terms of maize only you must also broaden to meat and vegetables your govt is importing. GMs are here to stay since they can yeild huge profits within the shortest possible time. Thus LPM, give GMs formula to peasant farmers in Shangombo, Nabwalya, Chikalawa and Munzoka.
Talking about Honourable Daka. I could not help but to this aloud. The Honourable was at Ministry of Communication. His long standing girl friend, later to be Mrs. Daka is an employee of MTN. I wonder when she caught that job. Did the Minister play a role.
Sam K, sometimes you just have to understand LPM that it is a slip of the tongue or mind to him. LPM is one person who contradicts his own govt policies.Sometimes i wonder who his advisor’s are,and before he meets the press, whether he is briefed. His govt has opened the borders to free trade and the sort without control on on the borders, but also you’ll find that LPM will launch a project on GMO’s and again continue to comment that his govt will reject the GMO’s.This is the main problem when something is been donated.Please understand our leader’s and their adviser’s. And, what are the health inspector’s from the council and govt doing about health standards if the import’s are breaching the rules? Sometimes, we do not need political intervention in breach of health standards,hence LPM should focus on more important national interest than hijacking other people’s job.Could be the reason why other govt dept’s ‘ve stopped functioning.
SamK, Kayata,you can not have a situation where by the President is always issuing directives.what does that in real sense mean?It appears every govt is dysfunctional,Zambia has responsible wings that can ably deal with such situations but it appears no one is bothered.As Sam puts it alot of GMO is crossing our borders to the Zambian markets interms meat, fruit, vegetables etc but more emphasis is placed on grain food stuffs can LPM let the learned persons incharge freely and diligently excute their charged responsibilities without being made to appear redundant in the eyes of the public?43 years after independence surely we must be a shining example interms good governance practices in the region.Even RSA which got independence 13 years ago appears far much a head of us.Its really shameful.Minister Daka deserve to be fired, why should he be fighting a motorist on the road?Are there no code of ethics amongst LPM’s Ministers?
Chilumba, you are correct on RSA, you see That Old Man, who was stealing money in the name of liberalisation for Southern Africa. He told us so many stories, that now we are the least developed in Southern Africa, when infact we are supposed to be ahead of everyone.
Ignorance is bliss. Zambia has been importing and consuming GMO’s Since the 70’s. What do you think all the yellow maize we have been consuming is. I remember in the 80s, 90s and 2000s whenever we don’t have enough food we import maize mostly from Canada that is GMO. The truth is our crops have already been polluted or contaminated for the past 20-30 years. All the talk about GMO is either ignorance or hypocrisy. Ignorance at individual level can be condoned if not tolerated. But having an ignorant president is a shame to the nation. If you want to stop the contamination of our crop, start being prudent in governance. Build maize storage facilities that can store maize for at least 10 years. The sad part is despite Zambia being blessed with Rains and fertile soil we are always one drought away from poverty. It breaks my heart to read that Zambia is exporting 60,000 tons of Maize. At this state Since the only serious agriculture minister (Mundia Sikatana) Zambia has ever had since independence. We should be secure in terms of Maize. So guys in cabinet get serious and put some capital investment and Maize storage facilities. Its not an option it’s a necessity for our lively hood
Sage, the chaps at Mount Makulu know the truth about GMOs and they are just scared of being fired by Levy. You can even gauge how they have been dillydallying for almost 6 years to feed him with truth and foolishly he is, he still pumps more money so that they would get the results he desires. Sometimes, I wonder if Levy has got good advisers who let him say things he has no knowledge on. Shame to have a Head of state of that calibre.
Sage, I agree with you, Mudia Sikatana worked hard in the ministry of agric despite aggravation from Levy who eventually stated making statements on his behalf.Now Mudia is a misfit in the new ministry.