As the Authority calls on the people to surrender the mealie meal they looted from the accident scene.
The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) together with the Zambia Police on Saturday managed to secure about 350 bags of mealie meal which may contain genetically modified organisms following an accident involving a truck transiting with a 34-ton consignment in Southern Province.
In a statement today, NBA communications officer Sandra Lombe said a truck transiting Tusk Super maize meal, which may contain genetically modified organisms, from South Africa and destined for a neighboring country was involved in a road traffic accident at Dallas Hill, between Munali Hills and Mazabuka.
She said the mealie meal was in the process thrown out of the trailer after it capsized.
“The Authority granted a Transit Permit to a trader, Sydney Zambwe, to transport about 34 metric tonnes of mealie meal. The truck was cleared at Kazungula border and was enroute to Kasumbalesa when the unfortunate incidence happened.”
“Unfortunately while some of the mealie meal spilled, some other bags were allegedly looted by some people from the nearby communities. However, quick action by the law enforcement agencies including NBA officers managed to secure the 350 bags of the mealie meal.” Ms. Lombe said
And Ms. Lombe said the Authority is calling on the people that got the mealie meal to return it.
She said it is an offence for anyone to place on the market any product which may contain GMOs without prior authorization from the NBA, therefore anyone with information on the looted mealie meal should report to the nearest police station.
“In this case the Authority has not conducted a risk assessment on the mealie meal as it was just supposed to pass through Zambia. Therefore, we urge all the people that could have looted the mealie meal from the accident scene to surrender it to the authorities.” she said
Meanwhile, Ms. Lombe said the Authority is saddened by the loss of life in the accident.
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