Govt deposits 1,4m fingerlings in dams

GOVERNMENT has to date deposited 1,4 million fingerlings in dams in all the country’s 10 provinces as part of measures to empower communities.

The programme which is being undertaken under the Command Fisheries programme has seen a surge in foreign and local companies as well as community groups applying for fishing permits. Addressing more than a 100 000 Zion Christian Church (ZCC) members gathered for a three- day annual commemoration of the life of late ZCC church founder Bishop Samuel Mutendi at Defe Dopota in Gokwe North, the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Cde Oppah MuchinguriKashiri said the department of fisheries would be turned into a fullyfledged department to oversee the success of the Command Fisheries programme.

“To date the Government through my Ministry has planted 1,4 million fingerlings in small and large dams. Today we have planted 50 000 at this dam at Defe Dopota as we accelerate the programme. We have also come with 200 fruit trees to be planted in this area to fight desertification,” she said.

“I’m indeed very excited that in less than six years since President Mugabe gave Mutendi people land here in Gokwe, the church has made remarkable progress in infrastructure development. The construction of eight dams including the biggest one which has been named Defe Dopota is an exciting development which is worth appreciating. “It’s indeed an honour for me to be invited to be part of this year’s celebrations as the ZCC church commemorates the life of the late Bishop Samuel Mutendi who is the founder of the ZCC church one of the biggest churches in Zimbabwe. It is amazing that the church has grown significantly both in terms of numbers and it’s influence on society. The church is doing well in looking after the environment.”

Cde Muchinguri said the fisheries programme presents the country with a huge potential for the development and expansion of the fisheries industry. The Minister said the Government was in the process of implementing another national programme on fruit trees production called Agro Forestry that will see five million trees being planted.

“We are in the process of planting seedlings of various fruit trees that are in demand worldwide in places such as China,” she said.

Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi the leader of ZCC said they were delighted to be working with the Government in its programmes aimed at protecting the environment.

“We are here where the Government is launching these two programmes which are fisheries and Agro Forestry. The man we are here for today was known as the rain maker because he prayed to the Almighty for rain and every time he did it the rain would come. President Mugabe thought of this ministry because he knows water is from the Lord. We asked for a piece of land from President Mugabe and he gave us land in Chirisa National Park. God created the Garden of Eden for fruits and we are turning this semi-arid region into orchards irrigated by water from the dams we built,” he said.

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