President Edgar Lungu has expressed concern with the increased cases of reported fish thefts in cages. President Lungu said the vice is a danger to the development of the aquaculture industry in the country.
He has since directed the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock, Nkandu Luo to come up with long-lasting solutions that will halt the problem.
The Head of State indicated that if unchecked the act can be a threat to investment opportunities and the country’s food basket.
The President was speaking when he launched the automatic fish harvesting vessel and the Kalimbi and Buyantanshi Aquaculture Cooperatives at Yalelo Farm in Siavonga yesterday.
President Lungu stated that government’s continued investment in the aquaculture sector will transform Zambia into a high exporter of fish in Africa.
He noted that the initiative, with a focus to empower more women and youths in rural communities will improve the livelihoods of many families in rural parts of the country.
The Head of State said government is implementing a number of empowerment programmes as a basis for accelerating development.
“The seventh national development plan is premised under the theme ‘accelerating development efforts towards the vision 2030 without leaving anyone behind’ our actions simply confirm our commitment to not leaving anyone behind,” President Lungu stated.
The Head of State further disclosed that the country has in the recent past become a hub for fish feed production.
He however, observed that fish feed was not accessible by many rural farmers across the country.
President stated that Zambia’s fish feed production capacity was above normal, hence the need for producers to establish outlets across the country.
“I am delighted to learn that Zambia has become a hub for fish feed production in the aquaculture value chain. As a country, we are now exporting fish feed to all the countries that surround us. This is highly commendable, “the President said.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Ngandu Luo said her Ministry has greatly contributed not only on the nutrition of Zambians but also in wealth creation.
The Minister noted that there has been an increased production of fish from 13 metric tonnes to currently at 40 metric tonnes due to investment in the aquaculture industry.
“I know that at the time you separated the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock from the Ministry of Agriculture, everybody is realizing this is a very important sector that was suffering under the name agriculture. But what you have brought to the table has greatly impacted on people’s lives in the country,” Prof. Luo explained.
She was impressed with the selection of women groups who will benefit from the empowerment initiative in Siavonga District which will improve wealth at household level thereby contributing to the economic growth of the country.
Prof. Luo assured that her Ministry will engage the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure that thieving of fish comes to an end as it has affected small scale entrepreneurs involved in fish farming.
And the traditional leadership commended President Lungu for his passion and commitment to ensuring rural communities are empowered.
Chief Simamba of the tonga Speaking People in Siavonga District stated that the various developmental initiatives have created employment opportunities as well as spark economic activities in his chiefdom.
He however urged government to work on the road network and electrify the area stating that the absence of the two discourages investment.
The traditional leader said the area is one of the country’s tourism attraction hence can only be boosted if it was developed.
“You may be interested to know that there are a number of both local and international investors who would wish to bring development along the lake show but are discouraged because of the road status and lack of electricity,” Chief Shimamba disclosed.
Meanwhile, he implored government through the Electoral Commission of Zambia to improve the voter registration services if they are to capture the targeted nine million voters in readiness for the 2021 general elections.
Chief Shimamba assured President Lungu of the traditional leadership’support to work with his government in enhancing development to all parts of the country.
President Lungu has since concluded his working visit in the district and has retained back to Lusaka.
Whose cages are these were fish is being stolen
Chris Rock not sure though he has also invested in fish farming and has alot of fish ponds, maybe he is talkin about his ponds
Chikwanda Mwansa l think so ?????
Vincent C Ngosa if its his pomds then we ha e nothing to do with that and he shoukd not be talking about them when he is dealing with national issues..actually let him just employee more security guards.
Always concerned.
Life is not as easy as you might think, it has become extremely tough for the poor of this country except for the corrupt and the well connected.
Create equal opportunities, don’t be bent on wanting to hear only from flattery.
What about the thieving in govt coffers? Tender thieving, fire tender thieving, ambulance thieving, Road thieving, building tender thieving? There you are not concerned?
EVER CONCERNED NO ACTION
Instead of being concerned with defaulting of the loans he is more concerned with stolen fish. Mwebantu we have a problem
Enza Pule Ulichipuba mune
Abedenego Hakaloba *****s like you are the ones who fail to question your president’s silence on very serious issues but get excited like lunatics when he talks about useless issues which is anytime he opens his mouth. Grow that tiny brain of yours please. It’s a gentle request.
Abedenego Hakaloba wechipuba niwe. Busy supporting a person with weird priorities makes you a fool
What about auditor’s report? This man!
Nah Sindila my question too
Expressed concern and it ended just there after the rhetoric. Status quo will continue. Exactly like his travels, where the man is always on the move but the life of the Zambian people remain in abject poverty, nothing changes . He has even made the country broke from debts this man.
Pipo are hungry en desparate to survive ,
Standing behind the president with a finished shoe.
Useless peace of sh1t of a president, destroyed a perfectly good country, this w@nker is as good as dead….. fical matter
ENZA PULE I CONQUOR WITH U.HE HAS NEVER ADDRESSED THE NATION OVER THE DEFAULT ISSUE.JUST BUSY DOING THINGS WHICH DON’T MAKE ANY SENSE.BATATA ABA NINSHI?
Ati shani?
When is he going to be concerned with the economy? The dollar is at K22 but he is still flying around on irrelevant trips
What a joke of a president…. concerned about fish stealing while him and his gang loot the country.
If the was any doubt you put a moron in state house there you have it…
The Country is currently experiencing high levels of monetary fraud by way of Mobile Banking. This issue is quite serious but we have not yet address it as a Nation. What is so special about the caged fish that they should be prioritized over other crimes? Is this the hysteria of Mafishi at CBU?
This guy…
Ba Ma Sabi bena muledandaula
Concerned about fish and not the failing economy, this man awe sure
Instead of being concerned with the debt crisis.
Uentriloquist
He is more worried about than people….kikikiki
He is more worried about fish than people….kikikiki
Concerned over Fish but not the Dollar. You find such in Lungusheni Economics.
A lot of angry sad bloggers in diaspora. What is going on there that is making you guys so angry over life in a country that you ran away from and don’t even live in? I can understand the days of segregation made people there who are black so sad. Of course there are still cases of bananas being thrown at you etc but it is nothing compared to what your forefathers experienced. Why are you so upset?
Mafishi
KZ – take your tablets for the day. Many Zambians go without food, in diaspora people have more than 3 meals per day. After stealing social cash for old people, orphans and widows, now president Lungu is more concerned about his fish stolen in cages. Pay back loans and stop Zambia being disgraced as a loan defaulting nation on earth.
On fish farming I commend lungu for preserving , imports of fish needs to be cut to zero, also take very keen intrest of the Chines introducing none native fish into our river systems like the Asian carp…….
these invasive species will devastate local biosyatems….
NEWS in Zambia is under three headings: Politics, Music, Sport. Nothing else.
Really? This guy is talking about fish today? People we are not serious to keep this joker as a president.
We have bigger fish to fry than this fish theft junk. We need to be talking about how he will pay back the money he has borrowed and hidden.
One president General warried about the ? fish .
Misplaced priorities
When there are numerous issues of greater concern, only to address fish theft.?