By Elvis Dumba, Kariba
The ongoing water crisis at Lake Kariba has pushed Zimbabwe’s fishing industry to the brink, with plummeting water levels threatening livelihoods and sparking a range of complications, from corruption to fierce territorial disputes.
In response, authorities have enacted emergency measures to stabilize the situation, but these solutions have revealed deeper systemic issues, leaving local fishermen grappling with both environmental and socio-economic challenges.
A four-month investigative report, backed by the Information for Development Trust, uncovered widespread corruption where fishermen were charged hefty fines of up to US$2,000 for fishing in shallow waters as the lake’s depth fell below 20 meters.
This led to a thriving black market of bribes, with fishermen circumventing regulations by paying off officials to continue fishing in prohibited zones.
In light of these revelations, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has temporarily reduced the minimum allowable fishing depth from 20 meters to 17 meters, effective for the next four months.
This temporary reprieve is meant to ease the strain on the fishing industry caused by ongoing droughts exacerbated by El Niño. The policy is set to run until February 28, 2025, during which time authorities will monitor the quality and size of kapenta catches.
A Fragile Solution
ZimParks Director-General Dr. Fulton Mangwanya recently emphasized the government’s commitment to alleviating the crisis.
“After meeting with fishing associations, we’ve decided to reduce the depth requirement for kapenta fishing. We are actively monitoring the situation to ensure the sustainability of the industry,” he said.
However, the temporary adjustments have not been without their own challenges. The migration of fishermen from traditional fishing grounds to new areas has created overcrowded conditions, increasing competition and overfishing in the remaining deeper parts of the lake. Some areas, like Basin 1 and Basin 2, have been temporarily closed to fishing, while permits have been redistributed to other basins, heightening tensions among fishing cooperatives.
Corruption and Piracy Thrive
While the regulatory changes have provided some relief, the fishing industry remains plagued by corruption, as many fishermen continue to flout the rules. Pirates operating on the lake are also a major concern, with illegal fish harvesting and clashes between legitimate fishers and pirates reported in certain areas. Authorities have struggled to curb this growing problem, which only worsens the economic impact on the fishing community.
“The situation is dire,” said Mr. Bernard Munsaka, Vice Chairman of the Zimbabwe Kapenta Producers Association. “With shallow waters forcing fishermen into crowded spaces, overfishing has become a real concern. ZimParks’ recent decision to ban certain groups from fishing in specific areas is a positive step, but the issue remains unresolved.”
Impacts Beyond the Lake
The ripple effects of the water crisis extend beyond the fishermen. As fish stocks dwindle and catches decrease, prices have soared, squeezing the income of fish traders and their families. Esther Gavi, a fish trader and mother of four, shared the dire financial pressures she now faces: “Before, my husband used to bring home US$30 a day from fish sales, but now we struggle to make that amount in a week. With the number of fishermen flooding the same spaces, there’s just not enough fish to go around.”
For many families dependent on fishing, the situation has become untenable, especially as schools reopen and additional financial demands surface. “I can’t even afford school fees for my children, and I don’t know what we will do this term,” Esther added.
The Health Crisis and Social Tensions
The overcrowded fishing camps, home to fishermen and their families, are also facing a public health crisis. Cholera outbreaks have been reported in certain camps, including Gache Gache, where one person died and five others were hospitalized. The local Civil Protection Unit has responded, but the outbreak underscores the deteriorating living conditions in these camps.
As the crisis deepens, fishing camps have also attracted individuals from outside the industry, such as commercial sex workers, further exacerbating social tensions and creating additional burdens for the community.
A Deeper Problem: Overfishing and Cross-Border Tensions
The long-standing issue of overfishing on Lake Kariba has only worsened. Despite an agreement in 2014 between Zimbabwe and Zambia to limit the number of fishing rigs each country can deploy, the numbers remain skewed, with Zimbabwe operating nearly 460 rigs and Zambia deploying over 1,500. The Ministry of Agriculture has raised concerns over unregulated fishing methods that are depleting fish stocks and shrinking the average size of catches.
A Call for Action
As the situation continues to evolve, there are growing calls from all corners for immediate and coordinated action. Fishermen, community leaders, and environmental groups have urged the government to address both the short-term issues caused by the drought and the long-term sustainability of the fishing industry.
The increasing environmental challenges brought on by climate change demand a more comprehensive and forward-thinking approach to conservation and industry regulation.
As the waters of Lake Kariba continue to recede, the future of Zimbabwe’s fishing industry hangs in the balance, with the lives and livelihoods of thousands at stake.
The next few months will be critical in determining whether these temporary measures can provide the necessary relief—or if the situation will spiral further out of control.
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