Women seek solace in fish farming

Theseus Shambare

FROM the confines of troubled marriages to the open waters of opportunity, the story of Ms Elizabeth Sibangwe and her community is a testament to the power of resilience.

Hailing from the remote mountainous Nyakurimwa village in Honde Valley, Ms Sibangwe, a 33-year-old mother of four, has overcome the challenges of a tumultuous marriage and found independence and sustenance through an unlikely avenue: a fishpond.

“Life has never been easy and I do not even want to recall the situation I went through. I have learnt to be an independent woman,” she told The Sunday Mail recently.

Her journey mirrors that of many women in Mutasa district, where gender-based violence (GBV), early marriages and restricted access to healthcare have been rampant, particularly within communities influenced by Apostolic sects.

These deeply ingrained challenges have long robbed women of opportunities and autonomy.

According to the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises, 1 149 cases of GBV have been reported in Mutasa district since the beginning of the year.

Mutasa district development officer Ms Sheila Mtetwa said GBV was of grave concern.

“Since the beginning of the year, we have recorded 237 physical abuse cases, 80 sexual abuse cases, 482 emotional abuse cases, 174 economic abuse cases and 176 child marriages,” she said.

A beacon of hope has emerged for women like Ms Sibangwe in the form of the Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme.

This initiative, spearheaded by the Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Department (FARD), provides a lifeline for women seeking economic independence and improved livelihoods.

FARD offers a comprehensive package of support, including free technical guidance on fish pond construction, training on fish production techniques and supply of free fingerlings to jumpstart the farming venture.

The number of fingerlings provided is tailored to the size of the fish pond constructed by each individual or group.

This programme empowers local women by enabling them to cultivate Nile tilapia fish (Kariba bream), thereby enhancing food security, fostering financial independence and elevating their social standing within their communities.

“We were often confined to domestic chores and expected to support our husbands’ farming efforts,” she said. “But we decided to take charge of our destinies and start a fish pond project.”

Under the programme, Ms Sibangwe and 12 other women formed a women-led cooperative and embarked on a fish production programme.

Through sheer determination, the group transformed a vacant plot into a thriving 13-metre-by-25-metre fish pond in just 26 days.

They pooled resources, raising enough to purchase pond liners, 3 000 fingerlings and feed.

“Initially, we pooled resources, with every member contributing US$1 every week for a period of six months,” she recalled.

“With persistent effort, we eventually raised enough funds to purchase fish pond liners, 3 000 fingerlings and feed.”

The next six months were a whirlwind of activity.

“We took turns to care for our growing fish, nurturing them with dedication,” she said.

Their first harvest yielded an impressive 375 kilogrammes of fish, generating over US$1 000 in revenue.

“We reinvested every cent back into the project, improving the water supply to ensure sustainability,” Ms Sibangwe explained. “We purchased more pipes to improve water supply to the pond.”

Since then, the group has been harvesting fresh fish regularly, reaping the rewards of their hard work and determination.

Leveraging the district’s mountainous terrain and the perennial Dziva River, a mere two kilometres away, the women ingeniously harnessed gravity to siphon water without the need for a pump.

When the Government launched the Fish for Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific (FISH4ACP) programme in 2022, the group seized the opportunity to expand their enterprise.

They underwent free training, including one on on-farm fish feed production, before receiving state-of-the-art equipment for a fingerling distribution hub under the FISH4ACP programme recently.

The FISH4ACP initiative is supported by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. It seeks to foster sustainable and productive tilapia aquaculture in Zimbabwe by small-scale farmers.

A fingerling distribution hub is a centralised location that collects, sorts and distributes high-quality fingerlings from hatcheries to fish farmers or other stakeholders, promoting sustainable aquaculture practices.

The new hub, equipped with seven 19-cubic-metre tanks, can hold up to 60 000 fingerlings per cycle.

This will see the hub supplying 1,2 million fingerlings every season, running from October to April.

Fingerlings sourced from reputable hatcheries like Lake Harvest and Government institutions (Makoholi, Matobo and Henderson research stations) will be kept until they are large, before being distributed to farmers within three weeks.

By creating decentralised fish distribution points at the provincial level, the project seeks to alleviate the challenges faced by farmers, who previously suffered significant losses during long-distance transportation from Kariba and Mazowe.

The transformative hub will enable the cooperative to expand its impact by training new fish farmers and selling certified and quality fingerlings throughout the province.

Inspired by the project’s success, Ms Sibangwe has taken the initiative to establish her own 10-metre-by-10-metre fishpond at home.

“The income from the cooperative and my personal pond has allowed me to provide for my children’s education,” she added.

Ms Nate Bhakuza, chairperson of the cooperative, said the initiative has had a positive impact on her community.

“We used to rely on fish from local rivers, but now we have learned sustainable practices that protect our environment. This has improved our nutrition and financial situation.

“There is truth in the saying that fish nourish the mind. I am proud to say that my two eldest sons have completed Advanced Level and are now pursuing their dreams,” she said.

She emphasised the role of fish farming in reducing GBV in the community.

“We used to face domestic conflicts, but since we started this project, GBV has decreased significantly,” she added.

“When women are empowered and are financially independent, they can create harmonious homes.”

Gogo Christine Gwenzi, a 79-year-old member of the group, expressed her appreciation of the initiative. 

“I am grateful to be part of this diverse group of women. This Government programme has empowered us. A financially secure woman is a productive woman. When basic needs are met, conflicts diminish and the risk of child marriage decreases,” she said. 

Local headman Moji Sahumani expressed satisfaction with the programme.

“Our people are increasingly focusing on productive activities and, as a result, cases of GBV have decreased. Now, we are seeing a rise in land disputes as people strive to expand their projects,” he said.

Ms Tendai Munyokoveri, interim assistant FAO representative, praised the group’s potential. 

“This group is well-organised, with a clear constitution and a thriving project,” she said. “Their strategic location, surrounded by numerous fish clusters, makes them an ideal candidate for a fish fingerling distribution hub.”

With over 1 800 fish farmers, Manicaland is Zimbabwe’s leading region in aquaculture. 

With every fish harvested, a child educated and life transformed, the women of Nyakurimwa village are not just changing their own destinies but also inspiring a wave of empowerment across the
region.

Their journey exemplifies how resilience and innovation on the part of a community can turn adversity into an opportunity, and drive meaningful change.