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Conrad Mupesa in Mhangura
A Mhangura resident who turned the defunct copper mine’s swimming pool into a fish pond four years ago has issued a passionate appeal for funding to increase production. The farmer, Mr Kudakwashe Katiza, turned the swimming pool located at the Mhangura Recreational Club into a fish pond in 2014.

Mr Katiza resides at the recreational club, which had grown into a white elephant since the mine closed nearly two decades ago.

“I started this project with few fish that I got from Estelle Farm dam. Since then I have given great attention to the project which has produced more than I anticipated.

“The pond will not be big enough for the fish which continue to multiply each and every three months when they breed,” he said.

“As you can see, there is no security fence to protect my project from poachers and it is also difficult for me to see whether they are being stolen since there are thousands of different sizes of fish inside the pond.”

“I am looking for financial assistance from Government so that I can buy food for the fish and water pump to help me empty the pool whenever I need to change the water.” He feeds the fish with mealie-meal.

Mr Katiza applauded Government for introducing Command Fisheries and urged farmers with dams to consider embarking on the project as it is easy and relatively cheaper.

“Farmers with sources of water reserves like dams should join Command Fisheries and those who benefited from the land reform and have swimming pools at their farm houses should also try to convert them into fish ponds.”

At least 34 percent of farmers in all Zimbabwe’s provinces expressed interest in the programme while about 102 farmers in Mashonaland West have volunteered to participate in Government’s Command Fisheries Programme.

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has also set up provincial training teams which have so far trained more than 175 people on fish farming in Mashonaland West.