Story by Tafara Chikumira
THE government-sponsored Chirumanzu Fish Hub is changing lives, with the centre targeting to breed at least 100 000 fingerlings per month as of April this year.
The Chirumanzu Fish Hub, located at the Holy Cross Dam, is part of the Second Republic’s broader efforts to promote fish farming and ultimately empower communities.
Boasting of over 400 000 fish which will be ready for market by May this year, the hub is targeting increased production.
“Right now we are targeting 100 000 fingerlings per month, so as time goes on we are looking at having a pond at every household through this breeding. On our blueprint, we are looking at producing 150 000 to 250 000 fingerlings a month, targeting a total of 2,5 million fingerlings a year. In everything we do, the community also benefits. As of June, we are looking at selling in excess of 30 tonnes of fish and the markets are there,” Chirumanzu Fish Hub project manager, Mr Simon John said.
The community is already experiencing some life-changing opportunities following the establishment of the project.
“We have managed to get fees for our children. We also get food for the children and enough nutrients. We no longer have issues of domestic violence as we spend most of our time doing this work,” a beneficiary said.
“Things are indeed happening here in Chirumanzu. For me, I have since managed to build my own house. I have also managed to buy my own cattle and my lifestyle has indeed changed. We are now living a stress-free lifestyle,” another beneficiary said
“Some time ago we used to travel a long distance to get fish for breeding. This is now a thing of the past as we can just get fish from our ponds here at the Holy Cross Dam where one can get the Tilapia breed,” a beneficiary added.
The Second Republic has introduced several empowerment projects across the country as it targets to ensure the country attains an upper-middle-income society status by 2030.
