Starving
Swazis Accept Genetically Modified Food Aid
A family in Mafucula, Lubombo
region the worst affected by hunger and poverty |
The appeal
In June 2002, at the Food
and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) food summit held in Rome, King Mswati
III pleaded for assistance for 150 000 Swazis who he said are on the brink
of starvation. With 66% of the Swazi population living below the international
poverty line, the Swaziland Baphalali Red Cross Society had no other option
but to join four countries in Southern Africa and appeal to the international
community for R720 million to provide direct support to starving Southern
Africans. |
The International Federation of
Red Cross and Red Cresent Association launched the appeal as early as July
2002. Swaziland, Lesotho, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe appealed for the
R720 million to provide direct support, including 76 000 tons of food to
750 000 people affected by a food crisis in regions where HIV infection
and drought exacerbated the infection. Later on in the month, the National
Disaster Task Force Chairman Ben Nsibandze urged all non-governmental organizations
to brace themselves for an "immediate" distribution of food aid in the
affected areas.
The delivery
The international community
welcomed the appeal by Southern Africa barely a month later. This was to
become one of the biggest rescue operations yet seen in the region. A massive
12-deck ship, carrying 231 trucks destined to deliver food for Southern
Africans facing starvation docked in Durban in August 2002.Trucks and back-up
vehicles from the ship were deployed throughout the region to rush food
to famine-stricken people. The operation was part of a World Food Programme
(WFP) project to roll out emergency food assistance to Lesotho, Malawi,
Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The region was seen as grappling
with a deadly cocktail of drought, flooding, misgovernment and devastated
economies. Within the month of August, the disaster task force held an
emergency meeting to finalise plans and programmes for the distribution
of the WFP food aid.
The world summit
While food distribution had
started in early August 2002, the World Summit On Sustainable Development
took place later that month. At the Summit, the Secretary General of the
United Nations, Kofi Annan said that Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland,
Zambia and Zimbabwe were threatened with famine. Annan was speaking at
the opening session of the meeting of the heads of states and government
at the Sandton Convention Centre. While the food aid was being rolled out
and upwards throughout Africa, a "can of worms" - in the form of genetic
modification - was opened. Many environmental activists used the Johannesburg
Summit as a platform to raise their concerns over the negative effect of
genetically modified foods/organisms (GMOs) on people and the environment.
Perspectives and Positions
on GM food aid
Zambia
"The government has finally
decided not to accept genetically modified foods even in our current food
deficit situation," says Zambian Information Minister Newstead Zimba. It
is necessary to examine the maize before we can give it to our people,
and I'm certain if it is found to be safe then we will give it. But if
it is not, then we would rather starve than get something toxic," he said.
"In light of uncertainties
surrounding the likely consequences of consuming genetically modified food,
(the) government has decided to take this precautionary principle on this
matter," he said. Zimba said the maize posed a long-term risk to the nation's
food security, because there was a risk that it was toxic and could contaminate
the country's local seed. "In this regard all genetically modified foodstuff,
including maize that is already in the country, should not and will not
be distributed," he said. Zambia will not allow GM food to be distributed
to some 255,000 refugees from Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
South Africa
South Africans are already
eating imported processed foods derived from genetically modified (GM)
plants, but there are effectively no government measures in place to police
the issue.
Though the Genetically Modified
Organisms (GMO) Act was passed in 1997, structures to enforce the Act still
need to be put in place. GM foods recently obtained the seal of approval
of South Africa's Food Advisory Consumer Service.
Lesotho, Malawi and Swaziland
So far, Lesotho, Malawi and
Swaziland accept GM maize
Angola
Angola feels that persistent
concerns have been raised over the safety of GM maize, and this has seriously
jeopardized the delivery of food aid to vulnerable people that require
it urgently across Southern Africa.
Mozambique
Mozambique shows strong reservations
towards GM maize. Mozambique has even gone as far as insisting that all
UN aid trucks of GM maize be covered with plastic sheeting in case of spillage.
Namibia
Namibia does not accept GM
maize from South Africa.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has in the past rejected
GM maize but has accepted it on condition that it is milled before distribution.
Zimbabwe cited the lack of scientific consensus on their safety and the
impact GM seeds have on the environment.
America
The Americans have warned
countries to either eat biotech food or starve, saying that anti-GM campaigners
were spreading "misinformation".
Europe
Five European Union member
countries recently called for a moratorium on GM products for at least
two years until new, tighter production and marketing rules take effect.
France, which led the call for a moratorium, has also insisted on the setting
up of a global food safety council.
Anti-GM Campaigners
Anti-GM campaigners say the
US is using Africa as its "dumping ground" as it tries to infiltrate the
European market, which has turned down all overtures by the US. "Africa
is really becoming a dumping ground and people are not being left with
a choice," said Rachel Wynberg, a Biowatch trustee. But Giddings believes
biotech foods are the only solution to global hunger. Another new
threat was genetically modified seeds and the corporate piracy of community-owned
seeds, which were now being patented for profit by multinational companies.
Biowatch feels that overseas biotechnology companies are anxious to find
alternative markets for their rejected genetically engineered products
since many are rejecting them. Many saw the food crisis as a springboard
into the rest of Africa to "test" genetically modified foods.
United Nations
The United Nations has pleaded
with African leaders to accept donations of genetically modified food that
they regard as safe, saying that there is no alternative donor able to
fill the gap should the US withdraw its aid.
Swaziland accepts GM food
aid
As from October 2002, SADC
ministers approved the creation of an advisory committee on GMs that will
draw guidelines on how SADC members should deal with the GM debate. While
most of the starving stricken countries in SADC have voiced their misgivings
over genetically modified, Swaziland has accepted GM food aid. However,
the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives has advised farmers not to
plant GM maize since the grain could cross-pollinate and pollute local
maize varieties.
The causes of the food crisis
are complex and vary from country to country. But in different proportions
they reflect a mixture of poverty and vulnerability, bad weather, poor
governance, bad advice from donors and economic collapse. High rates of
HIV/AIDS and other diseases have further decreased people’s ability to
cope. Food security is a human right and should be the top priority for
governments both inside and outside the region. Swaziland must not be looking
for donors to feed her own people but should rather have a long-term solution
to the food crisis. Food security must be placed at the top of the National
Development Plan so that carefully thought-out and implemented policies
rebuild people’s lives fairly and effectively. This long-term solution
will not require Genetically Modified Food Aid from Donors!
|
