Relief maize to be tested following safety concerns

Hellen Likando, head of the directorate of disaster risk management, confirmed last week that tests will be conducted to determine the safety of unsifted maize meal distributed through the drought relief programme.

The tests will be conducted after concerns were raised that unsifted maize meal distributed through the programme is unsafe for human consumption and has made some beneficiaries sick.

During a stakeholder meeting last week at the Kavango East Regional Council office in Rundu, Likando said samples of maize meal stored at a warehouse in Rundu were set to be analysed to ensure their safety.

“I will take them along to Windhoek for testing so that we can determine its suitability and whether it's really fit for human consumption. If the report that I'm hearing now is true, that it's making people sick, we will test the maize meal,” she said.

Likando emphasised that the safety and health of the public are of paramount importance.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister John Mutorwa and the chairperson of the Kavango East Regional Council, Damian Maghambayi, who highlighted the concerns about the safety of the food.

Healthier option

Likando also took the opportunity to explain that unsifted maize meal differs from sifted maize meal in several ways but is more nutritious than sifted maize meal.

“A common concern people have is that unsifted maize meal is not as good as sifted maize because we are used to consuming sifted maize meal at the household level. The Top Score that we all consume is sifted. The difference is that unsifted maize meal has a lot of fibre. It is more nutritious compared to sifted," she explained.

“The sifted tastes better than unsifted, and colour-wise, it's white. It tastes nice and looks better. But nutrition-wise, it cannot be compared with the unsifted. Unsifted doesn't look very clean because it has a lot of fibre in it. It's like comparing white rice with brown rice. White rice looks clean. The brown rice looks dark and taste-wise, white rice tastes nice. The brown rice does not taste nice; however, it’s healthier."

She emphasised that the same applies to the sifted and unsifted maize variants.

"I think we just need to educate each other that unsifted maize meal is more beneficial than sifted maize meal,” she added.

Voucher system piloted

Likando told stakeholders last week that the Office of the Prime Minister has embarked on a programme to transition from food distribution to a voucher system where the beneficiaries will be issued with vouchers that they can use to redeem food from the local and nearest retailers.

“This initiative will ensure that we cut on logistic costs," Likando explained.

"We are spending money on repairing trucks, fuel and S&T of those responsible for distributing this drought relief. In addition, this voucher system will also support or boost local economies, as local retailers will be able to sell these products on behalf of the government. It's a good initiative."

The programme has been piloted in the Oshana Region, where government has completely transitioned from food distribution to a voucher system.

"The communities and retailers in that area are very happy,” Likando added.

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