Pick n Pay selling GMO potatoes from SA -MP

Zanu PF MP Irene Zindi has claimed that Pick n Pay Supermarket is selling Genetically Modified Organisms potatoes imported from South Africa.

She told parliament that such products have serious side effects for the consumers and asked the government as to what measures were being taken to curb such issues.

"I was giving the second impediment to the new farmers as being the issue of importation of chicken, pork and vegetables from South Africa. These products are flooding our markets and are said to be GMOs [Genetically Modified Organisms] -. The GMOs that have side effects at the same time, we will be unable to cross breed our plants and that will affect them. We cannot look for seed from GMOs, at the same time, health-wise, they affect our immune systems," she said.

"I went into Pick and Pay, former TM Supermarket and saw a potato that is as big as my head. A sack of potatoes has got about 10 potatoes and those are being imported from South Africa. So all these Mr. Speaker Sir, are things that we are failing to see as obstacles. I am saying what can we do to ensure that the farms that we have are successful because that was the reason for Land Reform. The Government should come up with a policy to investigate all these issues that I mentioned and address them, especially on issues that people should not get permits. The Ministry belonging to Hon. Made should not issue permits to people so that they can import   these products that are available in Zimbabwe."

Zindi said they have reiterated these issues in this august House but what is surprising is that the moment we get out of this place to go into Pick n Pay or OK you will still find South African products in there.

"So I do not understand whether the executive are taking heed of what we are saying especially Minister Made's Ministry because he is the one responsible for giving these permits. Why is it that they are not doing anything about it? Why do we continue to see imports at the expense of the Zimbabwean farmer? That is a big question that we are asking in view of the aim of the President that our economy has to recover. But nothing is being done in that regard," Zindi said.
"His Cabinet is drawing us back. So why are they not stopping it? Why do we continue to see permits of things that are being imported? We are representatives of people who were given farms and we are giving the reasons why farmers are not being successful. Even the supermarkets they should also be addressed in the policy that they should be supporting the new farmers and to give a directive that you have to buy within Zimbabwe. If it is something obtained in Zimbabwe it should be obtained from farms in Zimbabwe."