GOVERNMENT says it is concerned by the increase in the number of illegal fishmen landing on Lake Kariba’s Musambakaruma and Namomba Islands.
Addressing delegates during his tour of the Kariba Dam plunge pool and spillway, special adviser to the President on the Implementation of Government Programmes and Projects, Joram Gumbo, said: “The issue of the Zimbabwean and Zambian fish mongers who have invaded Musambakaruma and Namomba islands has been brought to my attention. I would like to assure you that my office will engage the responsible authorities as we want to curb the mayhem caused by these illegal fish mongers.
According to a Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute annual fisheries report, in 2018, an estimated 190kg of fish was recovered from poachers, while 214kg were recovered the following year.
But the figure shot to 722kg in 2020 due to increased poaching.
Meanwhile, speaking on the rehabilitation of the Kariba Dam spillway and plunge pool rehabilitation Gumbo said: “Government supports the project because we recognise the significance of the Kariba Dam as a regional asset and the benefits that accrue to the surrounding communities.
“I have been advised that the reshaping of the plunge pool and spillway refurbishment works commenced in November 2019 and the project is expected to be completed sometime in 2024 as per contractual agreement.”
Lake Kariba supplies water to two underground hydropower stations with a total capacity of 1 830 megawatts (MW) generating more than 10 035 GWh of electricity annually. The North Bank Power Station is operated by Zesco in Zambia and has an installed capacity of 1 080MW. The South Bank Power Station is operated by ZPC [Zimbabwe Power Company] in Zimbabwe and currently has an installed capacity of 750MW, with projects underway to increase this to 1 050MW.
- Increased poaching in Kariba threatens fish farming
- Fish mongers threaten Lake Kariba islands
