The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspondent
THE command fisheries programme being spearheaded by Government to rejuvenate the fishery industry into an export entity capable of earning the country the much-needed foreign currency was launched in the province with 25 000 fingerlings being deposited in Rusape Dam on Tuesday.
The Manicaland command fisheries was launched at Rusape Dam by Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Cde Mandi Chimene, who said the country had over 10 000 water bodies which were underutilised and the initiative would ensure that communities benefit from the abundant water resources within their vicinities.
The 25 000 fingerlings put in Rusape Dam to kick-start the project, breed within six months. The fingerlings were put in cages to save them from being devoured by other aquatics and fish mongers that use illegal nets to harvest. “The Command Fisheries Programme will surely rejuvenate the fisheries industry and complement the command agriculture programme in improving food security in the country.
“The programme aims at food fish production and commercial fish production at grassroots level in order to improve food security and livelihoods of many rural communities. Rusape Dam was chosen for the provincial launch because it is one of the largest dams in Manicaland with a huge potential to provide natural resource based opportunities for the people. The dam is strategically located; it is positioned close to town which will give opportunities to the business community in the town. Opportunities are available for processing and value addition of harvested fish from this dam, thus the need to establish an on-site fish processing plant has arisen,” said Cde Chimene.
Cde Chimene said Rusape Dam would be used for the breeding and production of fingerlings that would be distributed to other dams in the province. “It is pleasing that the local communities here have welcomed the initiative and would like to participate in the business opportunities the dam has brought them. These resources need protection to ensure sustainability and success of this programme. The best way for us to sustainably use this resource is to use permit system for catching fish.
“This dam will also serve as a fingerling production centre where the offspring of the fish seed, planted today will be harvested later to redistribute more fish in all dams in our province. Once the introduced fish have stabilised and increased, various businesses based on these resources will commence,” said Cde Chimene.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Agency is the implementing agency of the command fisheries programme. ZimParks Manicaland and Masvingo regional director, Mr Trumber Jura, said the programme would help with the creation of jobs and it was a partial fulfilment of various clusters of the Zim-Asset economic blueprint.
“The Command Fisheries Programme will ensure that there is food and nutrition in the communities and at the same time creating employment opportunities and therefore contributing to the national economy. Aquaculture teams will ensure that the communities are trained in fish farming and also make sure that there is enough fish seed to meet the demand,” said Mr Jura.
Rusape Town Council chairman, Alderman Amon Chawasarira, said his council appreciated the programme as it helped complement existing plans of creating a vibrant economy around the giant dam.
“We welcome this programme because already we have plans to create a very big economy around this dam. We have earmarked agriculture, tourism and electricity generation as areas we can focus on and to add icing on our cake, Government has brought Command Fish Farming. Fishing in this dam is currently being done by ‘fish mongers’ who are unfortunately using unsustainable harvesting ways. We are glad that this programme will introduce permits and training to the fish mongers who should migrate to fish farmers,” said Ald Chawasarira.
