Republican President Edgar Lungu has described as a scandal the revelation that Zambia imports up to 45,000 tons of fish every year despite the numerous fresh water bodies the country is endowed with.
President Lungu says his heart bled when it came to his attention that a country that has 20 million hectors of land covered with water can be importing such a huge volume of fish.
He says he actually finds it to be criminal to imagine that Zambia has been importing Tilapia fish from China when in fact this kind of fish is indigenous to Zambia.
President Lungu has wondered where the people of Zambia have been all along to allow such a shameful situation to continue for such a long time.
He says his government however, intends in the next 3 years to ensure that Zambia takes its rightful place as an exporter of fish even to Asian countries like China.
The Head of State says to this effect, his government has already acquired a US$50 million loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for purposes of revamping Aquaculture in the country to the extent of it becoming an exporter.
President Lungu said this today when he toured one of the upcoming small scale fish farming projects in the country, Palabana Fisheries in Chongwe District.
And Agriculture and Livestock Minister Given Lubinda who accompanied President Lungu on his tour of Palabana fisheries has expressed optimism that Zambia’s Aquaculture can be revamped in less than 1 or 2 years.
Mr. Lubinda says his Ministry has already identified areas where aqua parks will be established using the AfDB US$50 million loan.
He says areas like where Palabana Fisheries is situated should be considered seriously.
Meanwhile Palabana fisheries Director Sammy Willey who led the President’s entourage on the tour of his farm is confident that the Head of State’s visit will spur the growth of fish farming in Zambia.
And speaking to Journalists shortly after his tour of Palabana fisheries President Lungu held back from discussing the current standoff between ZNBC staff and management.
President Lungu says he does not want to disturb the ongoing negotiations at the institution.
He states that his prayer is however that there is no political inference in the matter.
Mr president don’t just yapp do something that fish farmers will appreciate you are serious with what you are saying
kikiikiikii….. but lungu awe shuwa!,,,, `zambians should stop importing fish but instead import malasha charcoal`
I think Edgar is a listening president, he is working mwee. But he is lazy to do office work, maybe that what Mulenga Sata does is office work.
Even me when I become president, you not see me here at LT. I be in field baba… like Nawakwi.
Lungu, you and your PF minions are shooting yourselves in the foot.PF has been in government for several years now when all this importing of fish has been going on. You knew about this already unless you don’t do your job- which I won’t be surprised
Let me guess, we are going to ban the import of fish and then when our depleted rivers cannot produce the quantities required, we will blame the suppliers for hoarding fish?
Well said – our river are depleted from over fishing and using moskito nets to catch fish – control fishing methods, enforce no fishing during the banned periods….
I thought he said the money will be invested in that sector! However the challenge is are we going to give it to serious fish farmers!
Pretending not to know the situation. And so far every new project by the Govt is on loaned money.
I agree with what’s-his-name up there who admonished ka Lungu not to just talk talk talk like a village old woman but try to show some action.
And to my fellow Zambians, the chinese have perfected the art of mass production for rock bottom cheap. I know it is tempting to see those fat Tilapia selling for very cheap. But rest assured it’s not what you think. The chinese use massive antibiotics and growth hormones. Other countries like the US have started to crack down on chinese food imports with strict regulations. So the chinese look to poor countries with no regulations to dump all their funky fish and other undesirables.
Moreover that fish from China is fed on feces to reduce costs and satisfy worldwide demand!!
Lazy Bum Lungu Zambia has had a fish deficit for years but solution for the bum is get a loan…nothing smart like increasing taxes on imports to discourage it and tax incentives for potential fish farmers…I am sure by now minster’s have registered the proxy companies to start operating in “Aquaculture”.
Inspirational Mr President.
A speech worthy of presentation at the United Nations…Keep up the good work Sir.
As much as i dont like Lungu and his PF, i think his concern is genuine, people need to be realistic, he’s been president for how long? and is he expected to have full statistics about how much fish is being imported?…i very much believe that Zambians are to blame, firstly the over fishing in the rural areas and use of unconventional fishing methods as well as the lazy attitude most zambians have, Most zambians are lazy, they all want to go to Lusaka and sell something here and there, i can guarantee anyone that 90% of the fish farmers are foreign.
zambians would prefer to import cheap knock off fish from china than set up a fish farm, …Laziness is what will kill zambians,all they know is arguing about senseless politics that wont take them anywhere.people need to learn to work hard
Well said Mr President!!
Borrow borrow borrow so you and your ministers can steal. As some one up says increase import taxes on fish and give tax brakes and other incentives for fish farmers. But you will not do this because this implies pipo have to work and be in the field which your thieving ministers don’t want. It is easier to steal from borrowed cash manee.
We need to be getting this Chineese poisok bream out Chirundu border is in on it. Who will be supervising their officers pockets???? Support our farmers Mr president please!
There have been warnings from international organisations for many years appealing to government to control illegal fishing methods and periods but because of ignorance successive governments have ignored them. Now we are paying the price. The fishing industry can be a money spinner if handled properly.This is one area a good government should have targeted with these borrowed funds in order to stimulate economic growth in the fishing sector which would in turn create employment and tax revenue for the country but I wonder if the PF government is up to it.
“President Lungu has wondered where the people of Zambia have been all along to allow such a shameful situation to continue for such a long time.”
And here the people are wondering where the PF and the Lazy Lungu have been all along to allow such a shameful situation to continue for such a long time.
Did he only wake up NOW????
Was he sleeping or just drunk?
Frozen fish is tasteless. We prefer Zambian bream fresh so we know the source. We should not be letting in cheap dangerous Chinese foods.
What are you crying about? Ban fish imports! You have the power. OK OK Free market bla bla bla! Put a low excise on home fish and raise import tax for fish