The Maritime and Inland Waterways Director under the Ministry of Communication and Transport has called for the transformation of Sinazongwe Fisheries Training Centre into a Marine Training Institute. Addressing the graduating Coxwain in Sinazongwe District Davide Kema said the country has no Marine training Institute to improve on the safety of navigation. Mr. Kema said the Training in Marine would help to improve the fishing industry, tourism, promote safety on water, making of boats, and prevent pollution of the marine environment.The Director said the use of boats was increasing on the lake adding that it was vital to have trained officers to handle them to avoid accidents. “When you buy a vehicle you need licences but for boats anyone paddles and increase accidents on water which are more fatal than a vehicle colliding head on,” Mr. kema said. However, one of the graduating Student Davies Mbola said the Sinazongwe Training Institution has no proper training materials. Mr. Mbola said the Institution has no computers and photocopying machine to enable students have access to lecture materials on time as they had to travel to Choma district at times to have their work done. He said they were meant to stay in hostels without power for three months and without allowances even when they were promised to be given.[ZANIS]
