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Fortious Nhambura Senior Features Writer
For long, fishing has been Kariba’s most famous industry. Over the past decades when most residents in this hot part of the country thought of entering into business or sought employment, the first choice was the fishing industry.
Fewer opted for wildlife-based industries.

Although fishing bream, tiger and other large fish has remained a preserve of established companies, kapenta fishing became a passage for the black community into the once lucrative industry that was a preserve of the whites before independence.

Several cooperatives and small black-owned companies make up the Kariba kapenta industry. While this could be a success story of indigenisation, the kapenta industry is facing collapse.

Cooperatives and companies are struggling. Faced with high operating costs, influx of cheap kapenta from Mozambique and Zambia, dwindling amounts of fish in the lake, changing climate and an invasion of the monster crayfish, the fisherman say the industry is on the brink of collapse.

The chairperson of the Indigenous Kapenta Producers Association of Zimbabwe, Mr Cephas Shonhiwa, said the industry was feeling the heat.

He fears they will soon be forced to reduce the number of days fishermen are permitted to fish to allow breeding.

“The amounts of fish we are getting has gone down and we think it is because of overfishing. Soon we will be forced to increase the lake resting period to allow kapenta breeding. The amount of kapenta we are getting has severely dwindled and so is the tonnage annually.

“From a peak of 20 000 tonnes we have gone down to as low as 9 000 tonnes. This unfortunately comes when there is an influx of kapenta from other countries particularly Mozambique. Add that to the ever increasing cost of operation; then the future is not looking bright,” he said.

Tichakunda Fishing Cooperative spokesperson, Mrs Tendai Chandengenda, said the industry was at its lowest since the introduction of the multi-currency regime as the market had severely dwindled.

“Our greatest problem is we no longer have a sure market for our kapenta. We now are living from hand to mouth. We are only getting enough to finance daily operations. After paying for all the expenses we are left with nothing at the end of the month.

“We appeal to National Parks and Wildlife to be lenient with us. When we trespass fishing boundaries, National Parks authorities should not impound our boats but issue arrest warrants so that we continue fishing and raise the fines.

“Where does the authority think we can raise $2 200 when the boats are impounded? Sometimes the fishers trespass in order to increase the catch but that has no blessing from us. We have 11 members, nine women and three men. They all depend on this business and we should be given an opportunity to work and earn a living,” she said.

Another fisherman Nesbert Zechariah said the operating costs were going up.

“Our kapenta costs $4,50 per kg but because of the dwindling catches we are accepting anything above four dollars. To cover the costs of fishing, workers’ salaries, salting and drying we want US$6. This means we are running at a loss. Unfortunately we cannot stop because we have operating costs to pay.

“Costs differ from one cooperative to the other because some have their own fishing boats and permits. We have to hire everything and pay for the cost of renting both boats and permits. Our costs can shoot to over US$2 000 a month,” he said.

Some fishers said a change in weather patterns was beginning to affect their operations.

Kariba is now experiencing longer cold months than before.

“The hot season should have started beginning of September but as you can see temperatures are still low. This is not good for the breeding of fish and for fishing. That has indeed affected our catch and until the weather improves we will continue to get low tonnages,” Mr Joshua Zvanyanya said.

The influx of the kapenta fish from Mozambique has further compounded their operations. The product from Mozambique is not only cheap but can easily be shipped into the country at no cost.

This has affected the selling prices of the kapenta in Zimbabwe.

Mr Nesbert Munapo said: “There has been an influx of kapenta from Mozambique and that is hitting us hard. Though the fish is low quality and cannot be compared with ours, the prices of between US$3 or $4 is putting us off business.

“We then wonder whether someone has paid duty when they sell a kilogramme of kapenta that low. We understand most of the stuff that is affecting our prices is actually smuggled.

“We are not asking for a kapenta importation ban.

“Efforts should be made to end smuggling and protect the industry,” he said.

A 50kg bag of Kapenta originating from Mozambique costs US$90 compared to US$180 for a local product.

Faced with such prices, consumers do not consider quality.

They instead opt for price margins that sometimes can be a dollar per kilogramme.

“The operating costs determine the prices but we have been forced to reduce them further and at least cling on to a few customers. When you factor in the cost of diesel, salt and labour there is no way we can sell at the current price of US$4 and survive.

“With fishing permits going for US$2 000 a year and catches dwindling by the day, we are slowly being kicked out of business.

“The situation is worse for some of us who recently entered the sector and have to hire everything from fishing rigs to permits.

“It is ironic that during the days when business was lucrative, permit fees were low and affordable,” said Mr Pardon Zingundo of Tichakunda Cooperative.

Cooperative members have presented their case to National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.

Sadly, all their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

Currently Zimbabwean kapenta fishers are paying US$2 000 annually compared to US$800 for those operating from across the lake in Zambia.

“This is unfair because we are fishing from the same lake but we are being charged more. Why can’t the National Parks synchronise permit fees with those paid by our Zambian counterparts?” asked Mr Munapo.

He said on average a boat now catches 70 kilogrammes of fresh kapenta. Divide that by three you get 23kg translating to about $60.

“When you factor in the cost of diesel, salt, oil, council fees and labour as well as rental for the boat and permits, then you a wonder how we have remained in business,” he added

Efforts to get loans to retool their operations have hit a rock.

Mr Zechariah said: “There is no money coming into the sector. All we are doing is pumping the little we have to pay for operating fees to council and National Parks. We tried to get loans from the national Youth Fund but no one from the kapenta industry managed to access the money. Even banks have not been forthcoming.”

Mr Zingundo said; “Currently the buyer determines the price. We have no option but to dance to their tune. Business is only good for those who own boats and have permits. We have two boats operating but we still can pay our workers and remain with something to pay a dividend to our members.”

The IKPAZ is now proposing a three month shutdown to ensure that the kapenta breeds.

Sadly, this has been stalled by the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority that demands fees even when no fishing is taking place.

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