TITLE:  Zambian scientists urge state to reject GMO maize
SOURCE: Zamnet News, Zambia
        http://www.zamnet.zm/newsys/news/viewnews.cgi?category=2&id=
        1029308555
DATE:   Aug 15, 2002

Zambian scientists urge state to reject GMO maize

ZAMBIAN scientists and researchers have urged the Government not to accept 
Genetically Modified Organisms until a proper GMO monitoring and analysing 
mechanism is put in place.

Although many Zambians are threatened with starvation, local scientists say 
the unknown consequences of accepting GMOs may even more hazardous in future.

Speaking on last evening ZNBC Television debate on GMOs, National Institute 
for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR) director, Dr Mwananyanda 
Lewanika said government should immediately send back the 23,000 metric 
tonnes of GMO maize reported to be already in the country to "where it came 
from."

And National Science and Technological Council (NSTC) executive director Dr 
Wilson Mwenya said without bio-safety policy in place, it would be unwise 
for government to accept any GMO as it would be impossible to understand 
negative effects, both short and long term ones.

The panel which also comprised a Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) 
representative, National AIDS Council Director Dr Goldon Bolla and Dean of 
School of Agricultural Science at the University of Zambia, Professor Nobed 
Lungu agreed that whereas some GMOs may not be harmful, the fact that 
Zambia had no analysing capacity at the moment, there was enough room for 
uncertainty.

"The fact that we are not sure about some of the effects of the GMOs 
doesn't mean that they are safe," said Professor Lungu.

Dr Mwenya said if Zambia had GMO analysing mechanism, then it was going to 
be easy to examine each GMO and recommend those which might be suitable for 
consumption in Zambia.

He said it would not be enough to depend on foreign analysis as situations 
differ depending on circumstances and environment.

Dr Mwenya said even in advanced countries, GMOs are clearly marked or 
graded so that individuals are given option whether to consume them or not.

"In any case, those GMOs in developed countries are not consumed by people 
who are starving, so the effects might be different in our situation," said 
Dr Mwenya. "Our position therefore, as NSTC and NISIR that as long as we 
don't have an analysing mechanism in place, we should not accept any GMOs."

Dr Lewanika also urged Government to strengthen import monitoring mechanism 
so that GMOs from neighbouring countries such as Malawi do not find 
themselves in Zambia.

Prof. Lungu said the GMO technology may not necessary improve the agro 
production capacity as the problem faced with Zambia is not necessary lack 
of proper technology or capacity but that of social inertias and 
environmental changes such as drought.

And most of the callers urged Americans not take Zambians for granted just 
because they were in dire need of food.

"Foreigners in this country should reduce the talking, Americans should not 
take us for granted because of our poverty, we don't want their GMOs and 
they should respect our decision," one Lusaka caller, a Mr Paipi said.

Another caller from Ndola said President Levy Mwanawasa had earlier 
indicated that as long as effects of GMOs are not established, Zambia would 
not accept the maize, a position which he urged the United States 
government to accept.

Amidst looming starvation among thousands of Zambians, Government is in a 
dilemma whether to accept a short term multi-million dollar GMO maize loan 
from the US Government.

Critics say if the US Government was genuine, it should give the Zambian 
Government options to get the crop which was GMO free from other sources.

Many analysts also say the loan is a ploy by the US Government to find 
market for their farmers' excess corn.