CHAPTER 5

UTILISATION OF SMALL WATER BODIES IN COMMUNAL, SMALL SCALE COMMERCIAL AREAS OF ZIMBABWE: THE CASE OF FISHING GROUPS AND FISHERFOLK.

5.1 Introduction

This chapter describes the results of the fisherfolk questionnaire and the case studies held with fishing groups. The results are intended to assist Agritex in the development of its policy on the management and utilisation of small water bodies.

5.2 Fisherfolk

This section presents results from the fisherfolk survey in terms of patterns of fishing activity, species caught, gear used, processing activities and opinions on fishing groups.

5.2.1 Fishing Activity

In Natural Region II (NR II), it seems fisherfolk utilised the rivers more than the dams. (Table 5.1). In contrast, in NR III and NR IV, dams are the major source followed by streams and rivers. This pattern could be a result of the numerous dams found in the drier parts of NR III and IV compared to the wetter parts of NR II.

5.2.2 Gear used

Most respondents used hook and line, whilst a small proportion used baskets (Table 5.2). This is a sensitive issue because gear other than hook and line is illegal, hence these results may not reflect the extent to which other methods are used.

5.2.3 Training in Fishing

Training in fishing is purely informal. Most fisherfolk learnt how to fish by merely observing other people and copying them. Some were taught by friends and relatives. Fishing appears to be simple to an extent were some fisherfolk felt that they taught themselves on how to fish. The main aspects which need training are setting the bait and casting and removing the line.

5.2.4 Timing of Fishing

Fishing is mostly done during the rainy season (Sept - March) and less during the dry season. The wet season is most preferred probably because the conditions are ideal for fish breeding and consequently this may result in large catches particularly in rivers. However, other fisherfolk with access to dams may fish during the whole year. The interviews were done in August and the majority had last went fishing three or more months before, that is, during the rainy season. The time of fishing is given in Table 5.1 (b).

5.2.5 Species caught

The major species caught in all NRs are bream, catfish and sinde in order of importance. These are the same species which are also generally caught by fishing groups.

5.2.6 Processing

Most respondents smoke dry their fish. This is surprising given that the demand for fresh fish is high. It is also suspect whether the fish is caught by hook and line alone or by other, illegal, methods. As a result, they camp in the bush, poach, smoke their fish and then sell them from their homes.

5.2.7 Disposal of Fish

The bulk of the fish caught is for own consumption in all NRs. Only a small proportion of fisherfolk (10%) gave a quarter of their catch to relatives as a gift and there is little exchange of fish for other products or services in all NRs. Fisherfolk in NR III (40%) are more active in selling fish, sell at least a quarter of their catch.

5.2.8 Awareness of Dam Netting

Fishing groups are uncommon in all NRs. Most fisherfolk interviewed were unaware of the existence of fishing groups in their areas. Of those who were aware, the majority of them were not members of these groups. When asked about access to permits, most fisherfolk thought that getting a permit was a difficult thing in that they did not know the procedure. In NR III and IV some people thought that there were restrictions imposed on taking permits.

5.3. Fishing groups

Nine fishing groups were interviewed in Murehwa (1), Mudzi (1), Uzumba (2), Mt. Darwin (2) Bushu (1), Rusape (1) and Masvingo (1). In addition, informal interviews were conducted with key informants in the districts. These key informants included AGRITEX personnel and council officials. The purpose of this exercise was to identify the groups which were operating, the extent to which the activity was undertaken and the constraints which the groups faced. In addition, people who were engaged in fishing by hook and line were interviewed on methods of fishing, species caught, where they fished and their opinions on fishing groups. This information will be important for the formulation of a policy to efficiently utilise small water bodies. This section describes and analyses information on group organisation, sources of finance, asset ownership, fishing activities, advantages as perceived by fishermen and the constraints which the groups face. This section summarises the results from the fishing group case studies. A detailed description of each fishing group interviewed can be found in Appendix 3.

5.3.1 Organisation and Management

The groups varied by age composition and motivation for forming groups. Some groups were composed of youths only, while others were a mixture of old and young.

The reasons for joining fishing groups varied. Some members used to fish individually before and when AGRITEX introduced the idea of forming groups because permits are only issued to groups, these individuals had to join. They were no longer allowed to fish as individuals. Other groups were formed by the Ministry of Political Affairs, hence are composed mostly of formerly unemployed ZANU PF Party youths. It is mostly these latter type of groups which lacked cohesion. It seems these youths were recruited over a wider area to the extent that few of them had met, nor were they neighbours.

All groups except one was composed only of males. The reason is that it is a social taboo for a woman, especially a married woman to go away for a number of days (as some groups do) in the company of man. In addition, most men felt that the presence of a woman in a group may result is unbecoming social behaviour which might result in problems of cohesion in the group.

All groups had an elected executive which was supposed to execute plans for the groups. This executive was composed of a chairman, treasurer and secretary. The strength of the leadership varied - in some groups the leaders were fairly well educated, had attended leadership courses and could articulate their needs well. By and large homenet all groups displayed a lack of proper record keeping and financial control.

5.3.2 Finance

Sources of finance were limited in both scope and amount. Financing the initial capital outlay, (usually fishing gear) relied on a combination of membership fees, extra levies charged for each member or using revenues from catches. Due to this inadequate working capital all groups failed to expand the scale of operation. The joining fees and shares contributed were only enough to buy nets and other ancillary equipment. Generally, the contributions were not enough to buy a single boat or complete fishing gear.

Revenue generated was generally low except for one group (Kuedza). This seemed to be because members could have been under-reporting their catches hoping that they may get some assistance or because they feared that the council could charge higher fees if they discovered that they were making money. Finally, it could have been because the members may be cheating each other or that they weren't catching ample fish.

In all groups, members lacked a number of skills especially on management and financial control.

5.3.3 Equipment

All groups lacked a full complement of fishing gear. Lack of funds meant that they were using rudimentary methods - a few groups lacked boats so that members had to swim to set nets. Others did not have life jackets.

Most of the groups had boats, which were either given as a donation through the Ministry of Political Affairs or were made as contributions by members when they joined. No group owned a refrigerator or a truck. Some groups expressed interest in acquiring a refrigerator for storing their fish to enable them to sell their fish to more lucrative markets.

For many groups, transport is necessary when moving from dam to dam and when marketing fish to distant markets. For those groups who needed to travel from dam to dam, carts were used for short distances and council trucks for longer distances. However, the use of Council transport is not sustainable or reliable. In any case trucks are not given to everyone. If there is an increase in the number of groups, there will be problems of allocation.

5.4 Institutional aspects of fishing groups

5.4.1 Role of government departments

Groups were not sure on where to report and seemed not to understand the reason for the involvement of so many parties. It appears that there is limited coordination between government departments involved : the District Councils, National Parks and Wildlife, Agritex and the Department of Political Affairs.

5.4.2 Permits

Groups complained of the long bureaucratic process of approving a fishing permit. The fact that the longer the process the more likely that fish poachers would benefit. Though poaching is a national problem, it is felt that the granting of permits also contributes to this problem. Current interventions are inadequate to curb the problem. Instead of relying on Z.R.P. alone, the locals with the groups involved should also be involved in keeping poachers away. However it is interesting to note that most members of fishing groups were poachers before joining the group.

5.4.3 Extension Support

Group members complained of a lack of technical support from Agritex. It appeared as if the local extension workers were not well trained for this kind of clientele. Most groups met with fisheries extension officers during formation., but after that received little or no support. If the group cannot afford visiting officers in Harare, they are likely to get no technical back-up service from extension workers.