By Admore Mbonda in Kariba
Kariba — At sunrise on the glistening waters of Lake Kariba, a quiet revolution is underway.
The familiar rumble of diesel engines is slowly being replaced by the gentle hum of solar-powered rigs — a change that’s not just cutting costs but also reshaping the future of fishing in this lakeside town.
For Edgar Sthole, director of Led Churandu Kapenta Private Limited, the shift to solar energy is more than just a business decision — it’s a lifeline.
“We used to burn through up to 500 liters of diesel per rig,” he said, standing beside one of the company’s newly fitted solar boats.
“Now, we only need diesel for transport. Fishing itself is powered by the sun.”
The move couldn’t have come at a better time. Kapenta catches have dropped dramatically since the 1990s, when a single rig could haul in up to eight tons.
Today, fishermen are sometimes lucky to return with just 20 kilograms of fresh kapenta — a stark drop that often yields as little as six kilograms once dried.
With operational costs rising and yields falling, solar energy offers a much-needed cushion. But for many here, it’s about more than survival — it’s about sustainability.
“This is our home, our lake,” Sthole says. “Going green helps protect it for future generations.”
Local fishermen echo his sentiment. Tawanda Muzenda, who has worked the lake since he was a teenager, says the shift is empowering.
“We used to worry constantly about fuel prices. Now, with solar, we can focus on the work — on fishing, on feeding our families.”
The new rigs are part of a larger movement toward eco-conscious fishing practices. Environmental groups have praised Kariba’s fishing community for stepping up.
“This is a model for the rest of the country,” said one conservationist. “It shows that innovation doesn’t have to be high-tech or high-cost — it can be as simple as harnessing the sun.”
For a town built around the lake, where generations have fished its waters, this embrace of solar power is more than a shift in tools — it’s a statement of hope.
As the solar panels soak up the African sun, Kariba’s fishermen are proving that even in the face of declining catches and economic pressure, tradition and technology can come together — for people, for progress, and for the planet.
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