Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
GOVERNMENT has completed the formulation of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Plan and is preparing to initiate consultations for the upcoming Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill.
These consultations will take place in Kariba, Nyanga, and Bulawayo and once enacted, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill aims to create a conducive policy and regulatory framework that will facilitate the effective implementation of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Plan.
This plan will subsequently be presented to the Parliament’s Food and Nutrition Security Committee before being submitted to Cabinet for approval.
Mr Milton Tinashe Makumbe, Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Department in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development (MLAFWRD), said Zimbabwe is currently lagging behind other SADC nations in developing its fisheries and aquaculture industry.
Despite having existing provisions in its laws, these are deemed insufficient for the industry’s growth.
“While provisions exist and are utilised by various stakeholders, they are not enough,” Mr Makumbe said.
He emphasised that the new bill would align with the Parks and Wildlife Act (Chapter 20:14), which also includes legal provisions pertaining to fisheries in Zimbabwe.
The Ministry has convened relevant Government departments, private sector representatives, development sector players, and fish farming organisations to establish a framework for consultative workshops.
These workshops will lead to a final drafting session for the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill.
Once the bill is passed into law, it will empower the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development to designate any person or entity as an authority over a water body.
