By Risco Lumamezi at Muyako
Fishermen and women who eke-out a living from Lake Liambezi at Muyako expressed concerns and have therefore called government to unban fines imposed on them.
They told Caprivi Vision that it has become difficult to supply fish to the people for their livelihood since the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources officials in the region have taken some serious restrictions on fishing.
Muyako is situated in the south of the Katima Mulilo some 60 KM away the town with the population of 2400, they all depend on crop and fishing farming.
Residents of the region who live in the flood plain areas and those next to the river are mostly depending much on fishing dating back from the traditional fishing.
“We are wondering why, may be the government wants to take Lake Liambezi, we are told not to hook and erect our nets while we have fishing permits” said a concerned Muyako fisher who remained anonymous.
Lake Liambezi is the contrast of the Caprivi Strip which located at Muyako, it was historically formed up years back in 1958 when heavy flood waters dispersed and covered all parts of the strip. It receives its water from Chobe, Linyanti and Kwando rivers respectively.
“We bought fishing license but they are still interfering us, we are asking if they want to take the lake then they must tell us how much we should pay the ministry, we do not have employment that is the job we have for our living.” Said the fisherman, who has been making a living on fishing for eleven years.
He warned that they are entitled to benefit from the lake as it has flooded their flood plain fields ( Litapa) where they used to plough their crops over the years.
A fisherwoman who opted to be known as Bana John also cried that “I’m trying for my life as a fisher, when I get a man to marry me they arrest him, I don’t have someone who can help me”
She further raised her concerns that “My concern goes to Lake Liambezi and we don’t get drought relief food we youth as from 18 years above, when it comes for the registration of voters they come into our houses that we should register and vote. Now when we get into Lake Liambezi they stop us not to do fishing, when we get foreigners to help us fishing they arrest them, and our brothers are given fines of N$300 and N$800”.
Another fisherman Mr. Robert Lubinda expressed concerns saying they were told not to fish because they were busy working in the Lake, “I gave them what they wanted like ID and fishing license, they said they will come at around 5Am but they came very late “he said.
Some fishers and residents of Muyako have all confirmed that Ministry of Fisheries has been giving fines to people and impound their fish catch, which the communities have condemned.
Lake Liambezi is an economic asset which has a fertile soil, good for farming crops such as the maize, rice, sugarcane and other varieties of plantations.
However, Regional Head for Law Enforcement in the North and Northeast of Namibia in the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources , Mr. Gabriel Kapelwa explained that people in the region knows before they engage into business as nets are to be measured according to the Inland Fisheries Act which has been in existence for the last 13 years.
“We cannot allow resources to be depleted like that, the fishing has shifted from subsistence to self imposed commercialisation” warned Mr. Kapelwa.
He said the fishing sector which supposed to sustain the livelihood of the local community it branched into mushrooming activities as most of the fishermen are foreigners.
“The public is saying fisheries officials are not working where do we draw the line? The law provide fishing but prohibits drag netting and bashing these are used by fishermen” he said.
He added that most offenders during police operations are caught by transferring permits which means that they apply for permits and later they employ fishers , as according to him the law does not allow employment and bashing method they use. He noted that residents who are involved into this business are employing foreigners.
“They are arguments that these fish cannot be depleted… community should take their own resources while safeguarding. They are using lights during the night. Lets us protect our resources, government does not take away the resources, but they should know how to use it sustainably.” noted Mr. Kapelwa.
He revealed that “the fish which you can get now is less than 30cm compared in the past”
Last month the ministry of fisheries and the Namibian police conducted a special mob operations and the ministry is monitoring the day to day fishing activities.
Currently there is no closing season but the Fisheries Act state that and according to Mr.Kapelwa, the community was contacted for their input to this but is divided.
“The majority of this region they depend much on fishing, we want them to be partners they should report and resist harbouring fishers. There’s no law which prohibits fishing”
Areas like Muyako, Zilitene, Lusu, Masokotwani, Cingobeka and Liashulu are too prone of illegally depleting fish.
He further advised that, “let us not chase money they should fish but protect our resource”
Lake Liambezi is located at between Chobe and Linyanti Rivers about 60km south of Katima Mulilo.it is geographically consists of ten thousand hectares.
Loading …