Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
THE Chirumanzu Fish Hub at the Holy Cross Dam is transforming local communities with its goal of producing 100 000 fish fingerlings monthly from April, bolstering fish farming and improving lives.
President Mnangagwa commissioned the Holy Cross Dam in August last year, marking a significant milestone in the country’s infrastructural development.
The dam is part of the Second Republic’s broader efforts to promote rural industrialisation and agro-innovation.
The Chirumanzu Fish Hub is just one aspect of the comprehensive development plan for the area.
Other projects include an irrigation scheme, eco-tourism initiatives, and an industrial park for processing and adding value to crops.
These initiatives are expected to create employment opportunities, drive economic growth, and improve the overall well-being of the community.
Boasting over 400 000 fish, which will be ready for the market by May this year, the hub is targeting increased production.
Chirumanzu Fish Hub manager, Mr Simon John, said the project demonstrates the Government’s commitment to devolution and decentralisation, aiming to bring development to every corner of the nation.
“Right now, we are targeting 100 000 fingerlings per month. As time goes on, we are looking at having a pond at every household through this breeding,” he said.
Mr John said they have a long-term plan of selling in excess of 30 tonnes of fish, a development that will transform the livelihoods of beneficiaries and those of the Chirumanzu community.
“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,” he said.
“As of June, we are looking at selling in excess of 30 tonnes of fish and the markets are there.”
In separate interviews, members of the community said they were already experiencing 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,” said Mr Trymore Ngwenya, a beneficiary.
Mr Nicholas Siziba said in the past, they 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,” he said.
Chirumanzu South legislator Honourable Barbra Rwodzi, has previously said that the Second Republic is introducing several empowerment projects in the constituency and across the country as it targets ensuring the country attains upper-middle-income status by 2030.
As Zimbabwe strives to become an upper-middle-income economy by 2030, initiatives like the Chirumanzu Fish Hub and the Holy Cross Dam are crucial in driving progress and transforming lives.
