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Monalisa Chikwengo

WITH the country’s push to commercialise agriculture gaining traction by the day, the Government has partnered with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to develop a new fisheries and aquaculture bill, which will provide a comprehensive legal framework for the management and development of the sector.

The initiative is meant to strengthen the country’s fisheries and aquaculture legislation and transform it into a driver of economic growth and source of employment for Zimbabweans.

Consultations on the legislation that has since been described as the first of its kind as an economic milestone to bolster the development and sustainability of Zimbabwe’s fisheries and aquaculture industry started early last month with Government officials, fish industry captains, civil society and private sector representatives gathering in Harare to map the way forward.

They agreed on a roadmap for a consultative process involving stakeholders across the sector. A team of legal experts from the legal division of the Attorney General’s office and FAO’s legal division will assist in collecting views and compiling the draft bill, prior to validation by the stakeholders.

The bill will be considered for debate in parliament and ascension to law by the end of the year 2023.

FAO sub-regional coordinator for Southern Africa, Mr Patrice Talla said strengthening the legal framework was part of Zimbabwe’s efforts to develop its nascent aquaculture sector and transform it into a driver of economic growth and source of employment.

“The fisheries bill will be the first of its kind and has been described as a milestone of great economic importance that can pave the way for investments in the sector. This endeavour is in line with the Government’s thrust of streamlining legislation and improving the ease of doing business in Zimbabwe,” he said.

FAO is providing technical expertise in the development of the bill while Government is leading the process of stakeholder consultations and engagement.

“FAO has engaged its top legal experts to support the development of the fisheries bill. I am convinced that it will result in increased investment and production in the fisheries and aquaculture sector in the country,” said Mr Talla.

The new bill will incorporate international best practices in fisheries and aquaculture management and will be aligned with national development priorities.

An assessment of Zimbabwe’s tilapia sector to identify challenges restricting growth and formulating an upgrading strategy conducted by FISH 4 African, Caribbean and Pacific States (FISH4ACP), a global fish value chain development initiative and the Chinhoyi University of Technology between 2021 and 2022 found that the legal framework was a key issue for improvement.

“FISH4ACP is now supporting Zimbabwe’s Government to develop a fisheries and aquatic bill, which will see the harmonisation of various pieces of legislation relating to the fisheries sector in the country,” continued Mr Talla.