Zambia: The Minister of Information and Media and Chief Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa MP, with his Defence counterpart Ambrose Lufuma MP, visited the Chongwe Zambia National Service (ZNS) Milling Plant on Tuesday.
The government, through the Ministry of Defence, has entered into a special arrangement with South African private milling companies to import Genetically Modified Maize (GMO), which is processed into mealie meals specifically for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) market.
This decision was made after the Government observed an increase in the demand for local mealie meals, which were being smuggled into neighbouring countries.
The Minister of Defence assured citizens that the mealie meal supplied within the country is non-GMO and that they should not fear consuming it, as some sections of society alleged.
He added that ZNS was chosen to produce and supply mealie meals across the country because of its strategic milling points.
The capacity of its milling plants are as follows:
1. Mpika and Monze milling plants produce 240 tonnes of mealie meal per day, and
2. Chongwe has the capacity of producing 40 tonnes per day.
In this regard, ZNS is able to supply affordable mealie meals throughout the country.
Furthermore, Lufuma noted that the Cabinet has directed the Ministry of Defence to control the smuggling of mealie meals around the country.
The Minister added that it was sad that the Government is being accused of selling GMO meal meals when the country has laws and regulations in place for such.
The Minister of Information and Media and Chief Government Spokesperson retaliated by stating that assertions by some sections of society that the Government is importing GMO mealie meals for local consumption should be dismissed in the strongest possible terms.
Mweetwa urged those in the political realm to desist from propaganda and misinforming the public, as these assertions have serious repercussions on ZNS and the Government at large.
He encouraged political players to undertake a fact-finding mission to establish the truth on the matter.
Due to the seriousness of the claims that the Government is feeding the nation GMO mealie meals, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Information and Media will undertake a joint tour of the Kazungula border post to show the nation what is really happening on the ground.