TRADITIONAL rulers in Samfya have imposed a fine of K300,000 on fishermen who use small nets and mosquito nets to catch fish.
Senior Chief Mwewa announced the fish ban during a meeting with Zambia National Marketeers Association (ZANAMA) chairman-general Elvis Nkandu at his palace.
He said people who catch endangered fish species will be arrested and fined K300,000.
Chief Mwewa appealed to Mr Nkandu to sensitise his members on the punitive measurers to help enforce them.
Senior Chief Mwewa said it has also been decided that traders and villagers who buy small or endangered fish species will be arrested.
He said all the chiefs in the district met with Zambia Police Service officials and resolved not to wait for the council to pass a by-law, but use their powers because of the gravity of the matter.
To make the fish ban more effective, the sale of one-inch fishing nets in the district has been banned.
Senior Chief Mwewa said in an interview that chiefs and other stakeholders have been worried about the depletion of fish stocks as a result of illegal methods of fishing.
Mr Nkandu promised that ZANAMA members will be sensitised on the matter, and commended the traditional rulers for their conservation crusade.
Meanwhile, Senior Chief Mwewa has bemoaned the influx of illegal miners of manganese in his chiefdom.
Senior Chief Mwewa complained that some unscrupulous people obtained prospecting licences in Lusaka and went into mining without following procedure.
He said although his chiefdom is endowed with deposits of manganese, poverty levels are high.
Senior Chief Mwewa said a petition will soon be submitted to Government to ensure that the local people benefit from natural resources in the area.
He appealed to Government to construct a tarred road to link Luapula and Northern provinces through Luwingu.
Senior Chief Mwewa said villagers in Kasaba area are willing to erect a self-help bridge between Kasaba and Luwingu if Government helps them with culverts.
He said a good road will bring development to the area
[Zambia Daily Mail]
I wonder under which juris-my-diction these fines will be adminstered. Why doesn’t the government do something about the manganese, are they waiting for a foreigner again?
The chief should encourage his subjects to secure licences to mine manganese rather than just complain about the influx of “foreign miners’ in his kingdom. Everyone is free to mine anywhere so long as they secure permits. Period.