Online Reporter
Theseus Shambare
The aquaculture sector is gaining momentum, with investors and development partners increasingly positioning themselves to tap into what is fast emerging as a multi-million-dollar fish industry aligned with the country’s economic transformation agenda.
The Zimbabwe Aquaculture Value Chain Council (ZAqVCC) is hosting an investment roundtable in Harare today to unlock funding for scalable, climate – resilient, and inclusive fish production projects under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
The initiative seeks to transition the sector from dialogue to action by connecting investment-ready enterprises with financial institutions, impact investors and development partners.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Deputy Minister, Davis Marapira, said the Government views aquaculture as a strategic pillar in driving import substitution, nutrition security and rural industrialisation.
“Aquaculture presents a significant opportunity to increase domestic fish production, reduce imports and create sustainable livelihoods, particularly for our rural communities,” he said.
“As Government, we are fully supportive of initiatives that mobilise investment into productive sectors in line with NDS1 and our Vision 2030 aspirations.
“The aquaculture value chain has immense potential to contribute meaningfully to food security, employment creation and economic growth.”
Zimbabwe’s fish demand continues to outstrip local supply, creating room for expansion across the tilapia value chain — from hatcheries and feed production to processing and marketing.
The forthcoming roundtable will showcase investment-ready opportunities, including a proposed pilot broodstock seed system targeting 500 tonnes of certified broodstock, an inclusive outgrower scheme for 300 smallholder farmers and the establishment of a modern national fish market hub in Harare.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Department director, Milton Makumbe, said strengthening production systems and value addition infrastructure was critical to unlocking the sector’s full potential.
“We are focusing on improving seed quality, biosecurity systems and farmer capacity to ensure productivity and competitiveness,” he said.
“The proposed broodstock system will enhance genetic quality and production efficiency, while structured outgrower arrangements will ensure smallholders have access to inputs, technical support and reliable markets.”
Mr Makumbe said aquaculture is increasingly recognised as a climate-resilient source of protein and income, particularly in the face of erratic rainfall patterns affecting traditional agriculture.
“Inland fish farming offers a sustainable and drought-mitigating alternative that can complement crop and livestock production.”
The planned market hub, to be piloted at the Harare Agricultural Showgrounds, will integrate physical trading facilities with cold chain infrastructure and a digital platform designed to enhance price transparency and market access.
The initiative also places strong emphasis on inclusion, with women and youth expected to account for a significant proportion of beneficiaries under the outgrower scheme.
Financial institutions, bilateral and multilateral partners and private sector players are expected to participate in the roundtable, which organisers say will culminate in an investment prospectus and structured follow-up engagements.
As Zimbabwe accelerates efforts to modernise agriculture and strengthen value chains, aquaculture is steadily emerging as a viable frontier for investment – one that promises profitable returns while advancing national food security and rural development objectives.
With coordinated Government support and growing investor confidence, the fish sector is poised to become a key contributor to the country’s sustainable economic growth trajectory.
