Story by Kenias Chivuzhe
CONSULTATIONS on the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill have begun, with the new legislation expected to guide the country towards growing the sector into a one billion United States dollar economy by 2030.
The introduction of the fisheries and aquiculture department within the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development has paved way for increased efforts towards growing the fishery industry.
During the consultations in Nyanga this Monday, farmers and other players in the sector made submissions on key priorities under the new legislation to grow the sector into a one billion United States dollar sector by 2030.
“This bill is important to people in aquaculture in order to improve consumption of fish in the country. The country has been lagging behind in terms of production and sustainability of the fishery industry. There is so much money that we are losing by importing fish yet we have so many water bodies,” said a farmer.
Another added, “There is need for the bill to give special attention to issues of theft or fish poaching. We need the bill to unlock more funding to increase fishery projects and the establishment of processing plants.”
“This bill should protect farmers, especially with regards to standardizing production of fingerlings and feeds production to reduce substandard products that are counterproductive. Currently, any anyone can sell fingerlings thereby jeopardising quality,” a farmer stated.
Government and development partners are convinced that the enactment of the new legislation will remove a myriad of challenges affecting the growth of the aquaculture sector.
“We realise that there are a lot of unscrupulous dealers operating within the sector who are short-changed farmers, thereby reducing productivity. Some of the feeds are being produced poorly and there is need for regulation. There is need to register suppliers to make them accountable,” Deputy Director of Aquaculture in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Mrs Lilian Nyashanu said.
Fish4 ACP’s Project Coordinator Mr Paul Mwera said, “The bill seeks to create an enabling environment for fish farming. Currently, breeders’ license is issued by the National Parks while the issue of water is handled by ZINWA with EMA focusing on the management of affluent and selling fish which requires permits from public health department. The cost of compliance is high and this affects investments into the sector.”
The Director Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Mr Milton Makumbe outlined the scope of the new legislation in attracting new investments and promoting the growth of the sector.
He said, “Zimbabwe is endowed with over 10,000 dams, offering vast potential for fisheries and aquaculture development. If effectively utilised, these water bodies can significantly contribute to national food security, economic growth, and rural livelihoods. However, challenges such as lack of clear regulatory frameworks, limited investment, and high compliance costs have hindered the full realisation of this potential. This Bill seeks to establish an enabling environment that maximises the sustainable use of these resources, ensuring that aquaculture becomes a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s economy. Compared to other nations within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Zimbabwe lags behind in developing its fisheries and aquaculture industry.”
The consultative workshops, which started in Nyanga will be taken to various parts of the country as the country seeks to tap into the fisheries industry’s huge growth potential.
