Glendale community receives 5 000 Nile tilapia fis...

Glendale community receives 5 000 Nile tilapia fish breeders

Zim Now Writer

In a boost to local food security and income generation, the Glendale community in Mazowe District has received a donation of 5 000 Nile tilapia fish breeders under the Presidential Fisheries Programme. The donation, made by RADCO Fisheries in collaboration with the government, is part of a wider effort to empower rural communities through sustainable fish farming.

The Presidential Fisheries Programme, launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2021, aims to increase fish production and consumption in Zimbabwe, particularly in rural areas. The programme provides fish breeders, training, and technical support to communities to establish and manage fish ponds.

RADCO Fisheries national co-ordinator, Doctor Tauzeni, expressed his hope that the fish donation would significantly benefit the Glendale community.

“We came here to support the President, Cde ED Mnangagwa on his programme to distribute fish to the rural areas,” he said.

“In four months there should be 500 000 fish if people do not use nets.”

Community members welcomed the donation, recognising the potential for improved food security and income generation.

“Meat is now expensive in butcheries, so we will follow the strategies required to ensure we breed our fish,” said one resident.

“We are happy with this launch event, it’s a major boost for us,” added another.

To ensure the sustainability of the fish project, the government, through the Department of Agritex and Parks, urged the community to adopt conservation methods.

“We want the community to jealously guard the fish so they must fish using rods and not nets,” said an Agritex officer.

“Nets will finish all these fish, if each one comes with his net there will be nothing left, so you are the eyes of this dam.”

The ZimParks department also pledged its support for the programme, emphasising the importance of environmental conservation and sustainable production.

“As Parks, we support environmental conservation and production hence, we are rallying behind this programme,” said a ZimParks officer.