Africa-Press – Botswana. Fish farmers in Chobe have raised a concern over the prohibition to catch fish in NG 15 concession within the Linyanti River basin.
They aired their views during a meeting hosted by Chobe MP, Mr Simasiku Mapulanga in Kachikau recently.
Satau fisherman, Mr Boniface Lisehu remarked that the prohibition was unfair in that a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between Wilderness Safaris and Chobe Fresh and Dry Fish Association to allow fishermen to catch fish within the concession.
However, he said this agreement did not follow through as fishermen were chased out of Linyanti resulting in conflict. He said meetings were held between the concessionaire, fishermen and district leadership, but a consensus was never reached over the years.
Mr Lisehu said catching fish was a means for a sustainable livelihood for the people of Chobe for many decades adding that even their parents raised them from fish businesses.
A fisherman from Parakarungu, Mr Edward Tumedi said Chobe River basin had not received sufficient inflows for many years which resulted in the floodplains drying up quickly. He said the floodplains from Muchenje up to Parakarungu were dry hence no fish spawned within their villages of which Linyanti was their only option.
He indicated that as fishermen they were well aware that there were private campsites in the NG 15 concession hence their activities were only at Zibalianja watercourse without infringing on the operations of the campsites.
He was hopeful however that the matter would be solved after relaying their concerns to the MP who promised to call all relevant stakeholders from government and Wilderness Safaris.
MP Mapulanga pointed out that the concessionaire Wilderness Safaris banned fisherman from operating in the Linyanti area as this was a private land regulated by the Community Based Natural Resources policy.
He said as far as 1988 Chobe fishermen were catching fish in the Kwando-Linyanti basin up until 2010 when the area was leased through the Community Based Natural Resources Management policy.
He said when the Conservation Act was enacted to regulate natural resources in NG15 it caused conflict between concessionaire and fishermen as the former claimed to own exclusive rights to the shared river resources.
Mr Mapulanga said Zibalianja watercourse in Linyanti was able to hold water for longer period hence fish spawned immensely in those water sources presenting an opportunity to catch fish.
He said due to climate change Chobe River floodplains were not as abundant as they used to as the channels dried up quickly rendering fishing in Chobe Enclave impossible.
He said majority of the Chobe fishermen were elders whose livelihood was sustained from fish and were too old to find employment from concessionaires.
The MP said a resolution had been reached to hold a consultative meeting with all stakeholders involved; Wilderness Safaris, law enforcement agencies, District Commissioners Office, Chobe District Council, Department of Wildlife and National Parks to resolve this matter.
Source: dailynews
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