By Daily Revelation Reporter
Citizens First (CF) leader Harry Kalaba says President Hakainde Hichilema and his administration are now talking about food security on account of the drought the country is experiencing when they offloaded and sold off strategic reserves from the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons.
In a press statement, Kalaba said Hichilema and his government are compromising the health of Zambians and food of the country.
“The UPND Government is now talking of food insecurity with the current drought. Yet when they came into power they found sufficient strategic reserves for 2019, 2020, and 2021 which they decided to offload and sell,” Kalaba stated. “Even this year, they have sold Zambia’s strategic reserves to neighboring countries and decided to import GMO for citizens.”
Kalaba argued that contrary to Vice-President Mutale Nalumango’s views, consuming imported genetically modified organisms was harmful for Zambians.
“It is disheartening to note comments by the Vice President Mutale Nalumango that GMO Mealie meal is safe for consumption. Her comments come in the wake of a Press Release by the Chief Marketing and Public Relations Officer in the Zambia National Service (ZNS) dated February 20 which has been circulating on the social media regarding stolen imported GMO mealie meal,” Kalaba argued. “It is worrisome that the stolen imported eagle mealie meal, is part of the Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) commodities that are prohibited for consumption in Zambia. CF finds the comments by Mrs. Nalumango to be an attempt to water down and cover up a grave scandal of the stolen GMO Mealie meal which is potentially being consumed by starving citizens somewhere.”
Kalaba observed that the UPND administration was now indicating that the Zambia National Service (ZNS) would intensify security measures at all depot’s to prevent further occurrences, he wondered why there was laxity on the part of the government in the first place to safeguard the GMO commodity amidst the scarcity of non GMO mealie meal.
“It’s also sad to see Kazungula having some GMO mealie meal purportedly destroyed by the National Biosafety Agency (NBA). How much has not been destroyed and has been consumed by our people. The calculated carelessness of the UPND government is putting Zambia at risk for increased behavioral disorders in children and cancers,” Kalaba stated. “Citizens must understand that South Africa has been buying maize from Zambia because of the policies around non-GMOs. They started buying maize for cereal from Zambia after parents and health workers saw an increase of behavioral disorders in children. Equally, the World Food Agency has been buying Zambia’s maize despite it being more expensive than the GMO maize because the UN agency does not want to compromise the health of refugees.
He stated that President Hakainde has compromised Zambia’s position in terms of the GMO policies which has seen countries and global institutions preferring to buy our maize.
“Hakainde must stop buying GMO maize from South Africa on the pretext that its going to Congo. Congo has its own legitimately elected leaders who can equally procure the maize from South Africa to improve food security in that country. Hakainde must realize that he is not a regional President to be compromising the health of Zambians so that Congo can have food security,” stated Kalaba. “Zambians voted for him. His allegiance is to Zambia first, respect the constitution of Zambia on biosafety and not to abrogate it in the careless manner he is doing.”
