GMO MEALIE-MEAL DEBACLE

IMAY not know why our ZNS soldiers are promisingly being used to produce GMO mealie-meal to feed unsuspecting Zambians after it was passed as safe by our Vice-President Nalumango Mutale.

Surprisingly too, the same soldiers are also involved in supplying GMO mealie-meal to our neighbouring DR Congo. Quite strange though.

That aside, my issue today is on the safety of GMO mealie-meal which previous Zambian governments shot on sight because of health concerns it posed.

I also remember Washington bashing the head of President Levy Mwanawasa (late and MHSRIEP) for refusing GMO maize from the U.S.

For the information of our hard working Veep, GMO which means Genetically Modified Organisms is a dangerous potato to human beings as it has been proved to be capable of producing a host of diseases and therefore unsafe for human consumption.

So far, medical studies have shown that consumption of GMO can cause the development of diseases immune to antibiotics. These studies have also indicated that genetically engineered foods are inherently unstable, bring about allergies, immuno suppression, loss of nutrition and indeed killer cancer.

The studies have also proved GMO foods may also cause some common toxic effects such as hepatic, pancreatic, renal and reproductive. They may too alter the hematological, biochemical and immunological parameters in the body.

There are also reported concerns around GMOs involving environmental issues, all of which may affect the consumer.

So, for our Vice-President to declare total safety of GMO mealie-meal is a venturesome protestation.

Zambians are already broken down by the current drought and the overheating economy which seems to be going nowhere to be subjected to dangerous foods like GMO mealie-meal.

I think UPND should instead devote itself to lowering the high cost of living, especially now that the nation is passing through economic, political and social direful times.

I figure though that time is now for our government to change direction to prevent further socio-economic tailspin. Don’t they say amazing things happen when responsible governments give people the resources they need to build a better future?