By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
WOMEN’S quota councillor Brenda Maworere has called on the Government of Zimbabwe to strictly ban food imports from South Africa, arguing that imported products are contributing to rising health problems among citizens.
Maworere made the remarks on Thursday during a stakeholder consultation workshop organised by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in Beitbridge.
The meeting brought together economists, business stakeholders and community representatives from Matabeleland South to discuss the draft National Wholesale and Retail Sector Policy.
The proposed policy seeks to strengthen the “Made in Zimbabwe” brand, simplify licensing procedures, restrict foreign nationals from reserved retail sectors, formalise the economy and protect local retailers from unregulated informal trade while curbing tax evasion through improved compliance measures.
Speaking during the consultations, Maworere said the influx of cheap imported food products was negatively affecting both local industry and public health.
“What I want the policy to do is for the government to totally ban the import of food from South Africa. It might appear as if the food is cheap, but it has a cost on our health,” she said.
She argued that many imported food products are heavily modified and linked to the increase in chronic illnesses.
“Long ago, when people used to eat organic food, we did not have a lot of cases of chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, heart disease and premature deaths due to these modified foods,” she said.
Maworere further claimed that some products consumed daily may no longer be naturally produced.
“Eggs are now being manufactured in laboratories and these could be the eggs we are consuming daily because they are cheap. People are now rushing for cheap food,” she added.
The councillor urged government to prioritise local food production and protect consumers from potentially harmful imported products while empowering Zimbabwean industries.
Health experts worldwide have long warned that highly processed foods especially those high in sugar, unhealthy fats and artificial additives can contribute to obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases when consumed excessively.
However, scientists generally distinguish between “processed foods” and genetically modified foods, noting that not all modified or imported foods are harmful.
Research by international health bodies, including the World Health Organization, has stated that approved genetically modified foods currently available on the market are considered safe for human consumption after undergoing safety assessments.
Experts nevertheless encourage balanced diets rich in fresh fruits, vegetables and minimally processed foods to promote better long-term health outcomes.
The stakeholder consultations are expected to continue across the country as the Ministry of Industry and Commerce gathers public input before finalising the National Wholesale and Retail Sector Policy.