Zambia to Buy Non-GM Maize to Feed Hungry

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Saturday, 09 February 2002

Zambian Finance Minister Emmanuel Kasonde said yesterday Kenya and Tanzania had offered to sell maize to his hungry country after it rejected thousands of tonnes of genetically modified (GM) relief maize.

Zambia is among six southern African countries gripped by biting food shortages caused by both drought and poor farm policies. Zambia and
Zimbabwe (see Zimbabwe Refuses GM Food Aid below) , which are among the worst affected by the shortages, reject GM food aid.

"In partnership with the private sector, the government will explore the possibilities of sourcing the maize from Kenya and Tanzania and in the shortest possible timeframe will mobilise resources to ensure that the stock is sourced from these two countries," Kasonde said in a statement.

"Business entities from Tanzania have offered to supply good quality natural maize in good quantities in order to ease the problem the country is facing as a result of the current shortage," Kasonde said in a statement.

"I am pleased with the offers because they will give us an opportunity to identify cost-effective, in terms of purchase cost and haulage and delivery, sources of maize in meeting our requirements," he said, adding that he saw purchases from Kenya and Tanzania meeting all of Zambia's current requirements.

Kenya's High Commission in Lusaka confirmed that Kenya had a maize surplus and was keen to sell to Zambia. "We have been blessed with a good harvest for the past three consecutive years and when a fellow African country is in problems, we must help. We will help Zambia with natural food," Kenyan High Commissioner in Lusaka Esther Mshai Tolleh told Reuters.

Source: Shapi Shacinda, Reuters News Service via Organic Consumers Association. 22 Aug 02