dyton mupawaenda
Bulawayo Bureau
TRADITIONAL leaders from Binga District who benefited from the fishing rigs handed over to them by President Mnangagwa last year under the Presidential Fisheries Scheme have started reaping benefits.
The President officially commissioned and handed over the fishing rigs to 21 chiefs in April last year. Of these, 17 were given to Binga chiefs while four were handed over to Kariba communities as part of bold empowerment initiatives aimed at transforming livelihoods.
In interviews on Monday, chiefs could not hide their excitement as they narrated how the fishing rigs have transformed their lives. Some said they were struggling to send their children to school in the past but now can raise enough money for school fees.
“We were given the rigs by our President last year and the good news is that we can now employ other people who are also helping themselves. From each catch, I am getting between five and six bags depending on how the fishermen would have performed,” said Chief Siabuwa.
“One bag gives me an average of about US$200 and this has really helped transform our lives and most of us are now able to pay school fees for our children.
“The families of the people we employ are also benefiting unlike in the past and we pay them about US$20 per bag depending on the agreement. The more they harvest, the more they get the money.”
Senator Chief Siansali said: “As one of the chiefs who benefited from the Presidential Fisheries Scheme, which gave us fishing rigs, what I can say is that we benefited tremendously in the first three months after getting them and the catch was good as we were getting about 35 bags per month”.
Sen Chief Siansali said due to a decline in water levels at the Lake Kariba Dam, business has also slightly been affected.
“Unfortunately, due to a drop in water levels at Lake Kariba, it has also resulted in a decline in the catch such that we are now getting as little as five bags per month, which is not viable considering that we were getting 30 to 35 bags per catch,” he said.
“We incur overhead costs such as the servicing of the boats, which is now eating into our pockets. However, we are still optimistic that once the levels of water increase, business will also pick up.
“Kapenta is a thriving business and we are grateful to the President for empowering us. The boats are still intact and functional.”
Chief Siachilaba said he managed to take his two children to university after receiving the fishing rigs. Chief Binga could not hide his excitement as he shared the joy of having transformed his life.
“I am a father of 16 children and most of them are of school-going age, but taking them to school was a hassle as I couldn’t raise enough money,” he said.
“When President Mnangagwa gave us the fishing rigs in April last year, things changed.
“I am now able to pay fees for my children and I also managed to create employment for the locals, which is a positive development. I have no words with which to thank our President for empowering me.”
Commissioning the fishing rigs last year, President Mnangagwa said the Second Republic was determined to transform Binga and highlighted several development projects that will be swiftly implemented to empower the community, which for many years has been regarded as under-developed.
President Mnangagwa also assured the community that his Government would ensure that no one starves and that food deliveries were already being done to assist those in need of food aid, for free.
Guided by the National Development Strategy (NDS1) blue-print, Binga district is earmarked for massive transformation through the implementation of key projects, with priority being on completing the ones that had stalled for years.
Online Reporter