A mysterious fish disease has broken out in chief Ntambu’s area in Mwinilunga district of Northwestern province.
The rivers affected by the mysterious fish disease include Kabompo, Kasanjiko and Muzhimbezi. Speaking to ZANIS in an interview, chief Ntambu disclosed that the mysterious fish disease that has hit his area broke out last month and has since deteriorated.
The traditional ruler disclosed that the affected fish develop sores all over the trunk (body). He said the development has raised concern among the local people, especially those who depend on fish for their livelihood.
Meanwhile, Mwinilunga Veterinary and Livestock Development officer-in-charge, Allan Lizambi has cautioned the people in chief Ntambu’s area to refrain from eating the affected fish.
Addressing a gathering at the chief’s palace yesterday, Dr. Lizambi urged the local people to boil their drinking water following the out break of the mysterious fish disease.
He said despite the fact that there has been no report of any person contracting a disease from the affected fish, it was important that local people take precautions.
And chief Ntambu has appealed to government to speedily carry out tests so that his subjects were availed with information on what was causing the fish to develop trunk sores.
Meanwhile Mwinilunga East UPND Member of Parliament (MP) Stephen Katuuka said the mysterious fish disease should be addressed urgently.
He said government should act swiftly before human beings contract infections from the diseased fish.
ZANIS
This sounds like the stubborn disease in Western province. MACO should do something about this disturbing disease.
GRZ look into this urgently please. Thats my favorite dish ka
I hope it doesn’t affect humans like swine flu, in this case… “fish flu”.
Let me speculate….some industries are discharging toxic effluent upstream of the mentioned rivers. In future they should ensure effluent from their operations is pretreated to acceptable levels before discharging it into recepient water bodies.
#4
You got it. I also think its got something to do with toxic materials dumped by these newly oppened mines in NW.
Department of fisheries pliz quickly respond to the situation before life is lost through eating diseased fish.Can you send fish diseases expert to the area for sample collection and analysis so that you know how best to handle the situation. Although i know too well that it might be very difficult to treat the disease in the natural water system.
You guys are right.The same happenned in Western province when Spirit of Africa are alleged to have used some toxic chemicals in the quest to dig for diamond in the Zambezi river.
The locals had to chase these guys away but that season,all the fish had herpes zosta type of sores on them.Local communities rely heavily on the fishing industry for survival and GRZ must act ASAP to alleviate poverty.Suffice to say that this disease will spread downwards towards the course of the river.
Guys, do you know your Zambia very well? what of your Geography? Kansanshi is in Solwezi. Lumwana is in Solwezi. And there is no river that lows north in Zed. It is as simple as that. Let the Machila and the Chituwo do the tests quickly.
Guys, do you know your Zambia very well? what of your Geography? Kansanshi is in Solwezi. Lumwana is in Solwezi. And there is no river that flows north in Zed. It is as simple as that. Let the Machila and the Chituwo do the tests quickly.
Oweeee, chashupa amasabi nomba……….
# 4 you might be right but let me ask from # 1 >> What was the causer of fish desease in river Zambezi a year ago? …
Pfiesteria maybe?