12 Oct 2016

Local fishermen who have engaged in illegal fishing have been urged to vacate Lake Ngami so that government can officially open fishing season.

Sehithwa Conservation Trust manager, Mr Frisco Gabokakangwe and the Lake Ngami Fishers Association committee pleaded with fishermen during a consultative meeting that their illegal fishing practices at the lake is delaying the opening of the fishing season.

They requested fishermen to exercise smooth working relationship with relevant authorities and comply with the law.

They pleaded with those who attended the meeting to talk to their colleagues in their camps to do the right thing and avoid being chased away by force.

The trust manager, Mr Gabokakangwe told the gathering that government is capable of forcing them to vacate, but noted that he wanted them to resolve the issue amicably.

He said he is optimistic that fishing could be open before end of the year if fishermen could comply with the set regulations and do some conditions as required.

The manager said he had been informed that 500 fishermen are in the delta, while 300 are camping in the surrounding of the lake.

Furthermore, he revealed that it seems government would listen to their plea as the relevant minister assured them that fishing season could open only on conditions that fishermen vacate the lake and ensure environmental compliance.

Mr Gabokakangwe explained that they made the plea to government after realising that suspension of fishing took long and resulted in illegal fishing.

In addition, he said an expert in fishery had informed them that the lake is drying up and fish would end up dead, hence the need to fish.

“We believed that a temporary measure can arrest the situation at the lake and we made a proposal assuring the minister that we will do our best to regulate fishing and ensure compliance,” he added.

He said the relevant ministry has formed a joint management committee comprising of different departments and stakeholders which meet weekly to discuss if all are in the right track at the lake and report back to the minister.

The chairperson of Lake Ngami Fishers Association, Mr Loago Mokunki said he once toured the lake and found that over 3 000 locals and foreigners are fishing illegal.

He appreciated that people resorted to illegal fishing because of hunger, but urged them to do as required in order to speed the process of opening. He said the trust has done its part now it is upon the fishermen to put their house in order.

For their part, some fishermen said it is true that they were driven by hunger and poverty into illegal fishing because government took long to open. They assured the trust and the association to join hands and ensure that fishermen vacate the lake over the weekend. ENDS