Don’t force Zambians to consume GMO Nshima - Musenge
ZAMBIANS should not be forced to compromise their health by taking Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) because of the failure by the UPND government to manage the agriculture sector and ensure food security,’’ Mwenya Musenge has said.
Musenge, the interim president of Advocates for People’s Prosperity (APP), said no government official should force Zambians to compromise their health by taking GMO mealie meal by claiming that GMOs were not dangerous to human health
Mr Musenge was reacting to Thabo Kawana, the Ministry of Information and Media Spokesperson, who assured Zambians that GMO mealie meal to be imported from South Africa was not dangerous to human health and have no cause to worry
But Mr Musenge said government officials trying to convince Zambians to take GMO mealie meal did not mean well for Zambians, but were only trying to save the tattered image of the new dawn administration
He said the new dawn administration image had been tattered because of corruption allegations against some high-ranking government and party officials, violence, injustice coupled with the sky-rocketing prices of mealie meal and its shortage
“The sky-rocketing prices of mealie meal and now its shortage goes to tell you that this is an incompetent government which has failed to manage the agriculture sector and ensure food security.”
“After realising its failure to ensure food security, it is now forcing people to take GMO mealie meal in the name of saying it is not dangerous. No. Zambians must not be forced to compromise their health through taking GMO mealie meal. Those who know that their health is compromised, must be the ones to take GMO mealie meal,’’ Mr Musenge said
Mr Musenge has reiterated that he had lost confidence and trust in the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema because according to him, the head of State had failed to live to the expectation of majority poverty-stricken Zambians who voted for him
Mr Musenge said many Zambians voted for the UPND because of his campaign promises of reducing mealie meal, fertiliser and generally improving people’s lives which has turned out to be the opposite as poverty and hunger has worsened in communities
Mr Musenge said poverty and hunger had continued to worsen in communities and the cost of living had continued to escalate leaving majority Zambians losing confidence in government.