Maravi

FRA gives GIA ultimatum to bring non-GMO maize

FRA gives GIA ultimatum to bring non-GMO maize
Written by Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 4:51:15 PM

GIA International have up to March 30 this year to bring in white
non-Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) maize to replace the consignment that was recently rejected by FRA, chairman Costain Chilala (right) disclosed yesterday.

And Chilala said the board had not yet met to decide the fate of FRA executive director Dr Anthony Mwanaumo following his arrest last week for allegedly procuring maize covering materials in 2006 without following tender procedures.

Giving an update on the maize importation exercise, Chilala said the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) had not cancelled its contract with GIA International despite the company's attempt to secretly import GMO maize, contrary to contractual clauses.

Chilala said the other company involved in the maize importation exercise, Mark Daniels, had started bringing in the maize and that part of the consignment had been cleared and was in the country while the other half was stuck at the border awaiting GMO clearance by Mt Makulu Research Station.

"We have not cancelled the contracts but rejected that consignment. They [GIA International] have an open contract up to March 31 this year and if they have not brought maize by then, they will have severely breached the contract and then the contract will be cancelled and then I don't know clauses which will be on top of that. But basically, they should look for the right maize to bring between that day [when the contract was signed] and March 30th," Chilala said. "The other company, the controversial Mark Daniels has brought in two consignments of maize of 13 trucks of 30 tonnes each. The first 13 trucks were very well and we have no problem. The next 13 ones we are looking at the samples but the trucks are at the border awaiting inspection.

"That is another delay we have; you know sometimes, it takes another four or five days, until Mt Makulu says 'yes these trucks have non-GMO maize' that is when they can be allowed to enter. We don't want them to enter and start finding them they are GMO here in Lusaka. That is not what our interest is. Immediately they do not get the right maize by 31st March, [2009] the contract should elapse."

Chilala said it was easy for Mt Makulu to inspect the maize brought by Mark Daniels because the commodity was being imported in bulk form of 600 bags per truck.

"The whole truck can simply be opened and you can get samples everywhere," Chilala said.

He also said although GIA International wanted to cheat the country by bringing in GMO disguised as non-GMO, FRA would not rest with its effort to keep a tab on the importation exercise.

"You know these chaps [GIA International] we told them they should test the maize in South Africa so that they already know it is GMO free. We have been doing that [taking precautionary measures] even in 2005. You know this thing is not a joke for me and the board. It is very a serious thing," he said. "In 2005, we did exactly the same exercise but the guys brought in GMO maize. They were trying to sneak it in but we discovered and we rejected it. But the rest of the maize which came was clean in 2005. But they can't cheat us unless Mt Makulu is compromised. We don't pay anyone who is doesn't meet the standards."

And Chilala said the FRA board was currently consulting over Dr Mwanaumo who was arrested last week.

"We have not suspended him yet but we know that it is common knowledge among you guys that there was this arrest by the anti-corruption people and then we are doing consultation. Once we have consulted, that is when we will be able to make an administrative decision," Chilala said.

Asked whether Dr Mwanaumo was still in the office, Chilala responded: "We are doing consultation this week and by next week, the board will have finished their consultation. You know this issue of this importation is a very sensitive thing and if you take out the chief executive just like that, we can have serious problems. But that decision to remove him [Dr Mwanaumo] from the office, if need be, would only be made after we complete the consultation."

Chilala disclosed that Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) arrested Dr Mwanaumo following FRA's procurement of materials for covering maize in 2006 without following tender procedures after late president Levy Mwanawasa threatened to charge the agency with crimes against humanity if they allowed maize to go to waste.

Chilala said FRA had to quickly buy the maize covers because the rain season was imminent.

"The matter is not a current thing. It is an issue for 2006, which they had arrested him for. It is when Mwanawasa during the press conference had told the nation that if FRA get their maize soaked, then it gets rotten, then it will be crimes against humanity," he said. "They [ACC] have already informed us. They wrote to us on Friday and we also started consulting on Friday immediately they informed us. We are moving toward something. But it is not the President [Rupiah Banda] or minister, but the legal people to tell us how to deal with this and once we have got those consultations, we will meet as a board and then make a decision."

Meanwhile, Chilala expressed anger at a letter published in The Post last week from an anonymous former senior FRA employee who accused some board members [Chilala and Caleb Mulenga - Miller Association of Zambia chairman] of being highly compromised.

The anonymous former employee also wondered why Chilala and others could serve both the people of Zambia and monetary profits.

But Chilala said the FRA board had worked hard to avert the maize crisis in the country and to sanitise the grain administration sector.

Chilala said he was a focused, elderly person who wanted to perform his duties properly and ensure that good standards were set at FRA.

Labels: COSTAIN CHILALA, FRA, GIA INTERNATIONAL, GMO

posted by MrK @ 4:51 PM