Chronicle Editor
Richard Muponde, Zimpapers Politics Hub
The Southern African Development Community (Sadc) is vigorously embarking on fisheries and aquaculture projects in member states to champion regional economic development.
This is in line with the Sadc Protocol on Fisheries and Aquaculture adopted in 2001 in which all countries in the region are compelled to ratify and implement.
The regional bloc discovered that fisheries and aquaculture is a sector which has the potential of championing economic development in member states and the region as a whole.
In May 2022, the Sadc Ministers responsible for Agriculture and Food Security, Fisheries and Aquaculture met in Malawi and made a statement from the joint meeting whose objective was to consider and review implementation of policies and strategies aimed at advancing the agriculture and food and nutrition security, fisheries and aquaculture production and productivity in the region.
The Ministers approved the report on implementation of the Protocol on Fisheries, which provides updated information on the extent to which member states had implemented the Protocol and highlighting success stories where meaningful progress had been made.
They also urged member states that have not yet acceded to the Protocol on Fisheries (2001) to do so without further delay for the region to move in co-ordination.
The Ministers commended co-operating partners, namely the African Development Bank (AfDB), European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development, Stop Illegal Fishing (SIF), Water Research Commission (WRC), World Fish and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) for supporting the implementation of regional programmes and operationalisation of the Raip for supporting Sadc in the implementation of priority regional programmes across the sectors.
They also appreciated the support rendered by the Government of the Republic of Malawi for successfully hosting the joint meeting of Ministers responsible for Agriculture and Food Security, Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Chaired by Malawi Minister of Agriculture and Chairperson of the Joint Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Agriculture and Food Security, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Lobin Lowe, the meeting commended Sadc member states for working diligently to implement a wide number of recommendations supporting regional agricultural efficiencies, including the 2021/2022 Synthesis Report on the State of Food and Nutrition Security and Vulnerability in the Sadc Region.
The meeting was attended by Ministers or their representatives from 14 member states, namely the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Kingdom of Lesotho, Republics of Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Observers have said actively pursuing the development of fisheries and aquaculture as a means to drive regional economic development will ensure economic well-being and improve the standards of living within the region.
There are already some success stories in Botswana, Malawi and Namibia, which are likely to be highlighted at the forthcoming Sadc Summit in Harare in August.
Germany’s development agency, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), piloted the project on “Aligning Regional and National Aquaculture Strategic Frameworks in Sadc in an effort to strengthen national and regional linkages towards achieving regional integration objectives.
The objective of the project is to ensure alignment between regional and national levels within the context of sustainable aquaculture development in the three pilot countries of Botswana, Malawi and Namibia.
Commenting on the success stories in the three countries, Sadc on its website said “this highlights the importance accorded by Sadc Ministers to this sector and the timing of these development strategies has come at an opportune time with the Sadc region now searching for new economic activities to develop the region.”
The issue of the implementation of the Sadc Protocol on Fisheries and Aquaculture will likely top the agenda in Mt Hampden when the regional leaders gather for the 44th Sadc Summit in August where President Mnangagwa will also assume the chairmanship of the regional bloc.
Analysts who spoke to the Zimpapers Politics Hub said fisheries and aquaculture play a crucial role in the economic development of the Sadc region.
They said Zimbabwe as a land-locked country possesses natural resources suitable for fish production, highlighting the potential for growth in this sector. Furthermore, the development of fisheries and aquaculture can contribute to addressing environmental scarcity and conflict, which are exacerbated by environmental degradation, population growth and climate change.
Mr Aleck Dzenga, a fisheries and aquaculture expert, said aquaculture drives job creation, foreign exchange earnings and entrepreneurial ventures, while aiding in habitat restoration and ecotourism.
“It complements other agricultural enterprises like horticulture, bee keeping, piggery and poultry,” Mr Dzenga said.
“There has been a positive response by new and already established farmers in Zimbabwe engaging in basic fish farming training, refresher courses and consulting experts in the field. The major challenge is information dissemination and resource distribution and not having reliable water sources and funding,” he said.
Mr Dzenga urged youths in Zimbabwe and in the region to take up aquaculture as it is a game changer and an economic development enabler.
“One must first have the passion for the project and take it as seriously, having undertaken Basic Fish Farming training. Make sure you have a reliable water source (borehole, dam or municipal water) since a majority of projects fail when water supply is disturbed,” he said.
Mr Dzenga said the forthcoming Sadc Summit in August, presents an opportune platform to address the challenges and opportunities in fisheries and aquaculture for regional economic development.
“The summit can serve as a forum for member states to collaborate on strategies to boost production in this sector. By fostering regional integration, co-operation and socio-economic development, the Sadc region can capture high potential for economic growth,” he said.
The 44th Sadc Summit to be held in Harare in August will run under the theme, “Promoting innovation to unlock opportunities for sustainable economic growth and development towards an industrialised Sadc.” —@muponderichard
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