adminRichard Muponde Sunday News Correspondent
TRADITIONAL leaders in Binga have appealed to Government to provide them with fishing rigs to harvest kapenta in the Zambezi River with proceeds going into a community fund under Isiphala Senkosi programme, which will in turn be used for development in the district.
The request comes in the wake of efforts by Matabeland North Minister of State Cde Cain Mathema to grant fishing permits to all chiefs in the district.
Binga is lagging behind in development despite being endowed with vast natural resources with people from outside the district tapping into the resources.
The situation has driven the traditional leaders to call on Government to intervene, leading to Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko visiting the area and ordering Cde Mathema to open Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme in the district.
At the moment, the Minister of State’s office is seized with mobilising funds and equipment to clear the 250 hectares earmarked for the first phase of the project.
Contacted for comment on the chiefs’ request, Cde Mathema yesterday urged the chiefs to write to his office.
“Let them write that to me. I have not been approached about the fishing rigs. However, what I know is that I am organising fishing permits for each chief in the district. As for the rigs they have to formally write to my office,” said Cde Mathema.
However, chiefs who spoke to Sunday News said although they appreciated Government efforts in setting up the Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme, they were also appealing for fishing rigs so that the communities harvest kapenta fish from Zambezi River.
“We have been trying to engage the Government for the past years for development projects but very little has been done. We are saying since we have the Zambezi River they could help chiefs with fishing rigs so that communities will also engage in fishing with the money channelled towards develop Binga,” said Chief Sinasengwe.
“People coming from outside the districts are the ones who have rigs in the Zambezi and our people are benefiting little from it yet it’s our natural resource. We are not saying these people should not come to Binga but we want our people to also benefit from their natural resources.”
He said the rigs would be administered in the model in which Isiphala SeNkosi was being administered in other areas where chiefs have been given inputs to farm for their subjects. His sentiments were echoed by Chief Siansali who said Government intervention would go a long way in solving the perennial hunger experienced in Binga.
“As you know, we don’t have any farms in the district to practise Isiphala SeNkosi similar to what is done in other regions, Zambezi River is our farm. If our people fish in the river and get money it will benefit the community. We will be very grateful to the Government,” said Chief Siansali.
Binga has been dogged by perennial hunger due to erratic rains which characterise the district leaving the villagers surviving on food handouts for non-governmental organisations.
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