|
Furore over suspicious rice rages
2007-07-20 10:19:12
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Controversy over the importation of a consignment of rice believed to be unfit for human consumption resurfaced here yesterday, as members of the Isles House of Representatives questioned the government’s order that the item be distributed for sale.
The legislators demanded the formation of a team to investigate the reported scandal surrounding both the importation and the subsequent ``bizarre`` instructions by the government.
The Representatives made the remarks when contributing to debate on the 2007/08 budget estimates on the Isles` Health and Social Welfare ministry, tabled in the House by minister Sultan Mohamed Mugheiry.
Mazomanie Representative Salmon Awash noted that the office of the Zanzibar chief government chemist had conclusively declared the rice unfit for human consumption but, surprisingly, part of the consignment was later shipped to Tango on the mainland.
He said the CGC had duly notified the Tourism, Trade and Investment ministry in the development, with the latter alerting the police in the matter after the closure of the storage warehouse in Zanzibar.
``Four padlocks were placed at the entrances to the warehouse to secure it. However, the owners broke the padlocks in the presence of the police from the Mizzen police station,`` he explained, noting that the contested rice was then ferried to Tanga ``obviously for use by our fellow Tanzanians``.
Awadh added: ``We need to form a committee lest our people get used to endangering their lives by feeding on imported foodstuffs unsuitable for human consumption. There is no doubt that there was foul play in the whole saga.``
``It is quite possible that the office of the chief government chemist received threats from the culprits. Otherwise, how possibly could it have screened samples of the consignment twice only thereafter to rule that the rice was now okay?`` he wondered.
The Representative pointed out that it was strange to note that only 20 out of the 30,000 bags imported were said to be packed with rice that was unfit for human consumption. He questioned the criteria used in identifying the 20 bags.
Muyuni Representative Ramadhani Nyonje Pandu concurred by noting that there were a lot of unanswered questions and ``a possibility of foul play by health officers at the port, dishonest members of the business community as well as staff of the Health ministry and the office of the chief government chemist``.
Pandu said what happened would make the CGC’s office workers feel uneasy after indications that they were threatened into conveniently doctoring their report on the saga.
He explained that there have been long-running complaints from the public about the suspected importation of food unfit for human consumption, adding: ``I will not support this budget until I receive convincing explanation to the contrary. People are fed up consuming hazardous food.``
|
