Cablegate: G0vernment Paper

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS HARARE 002061

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PD, AF/S, AF/RA
NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KPAO KMDR ZI
SUBJECT: G0VERNMENT PAPER

1. Under headline "Correct labeling of GM food a must"
the government-owned daily "Herald" uses its September 7
editorial as a petulant parting shot at food assistance
from the U.S. Excerpts:

2. "Now that government has accepted genetically modified
food aid from the American Government, it is imperative
that this food be appropriately labeled to give consumers
and aid beneficiaries a choice to either starve or risk
eating it. The measures that have been put in place to
quarantine the American maize and closely monitor its
transport, milling and distribution will certainly go a
long way in protecting the country's agricultural industry
from contamination. However, without any conclusive
evidence on the effects of GMOs on human beings, the
responsibility of eating this food now lies with the
individual consumer and aid beneficiary. If government had
its way and enough resources to source and import clean
maize to feed the entire nation, it would definitely not
risk the health of its people. . . So the final
responsibility lies with Zimbabweans themselves to either
eat or not provided they have adequate information warning
consumers that this food is genetically engineered. . ."

SULLIVAN

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