The Sunday News
Ngonidzashe Chiutsi Business Correspondent
Fact sheet
National Parks fishing permit: $2 500/ annumCouncil lease fee: $500/year
Lake Navigation fee: $75/rig
Council Trading Licence fee: $70/month
Inspection fee: $50/annum
Patrol fee: $25/month
Health Department fee: $14/month/per person
Zimra: 15 percent of income generated per month
PLAYERS in the fishing industry say high licence and administration fees by different statutory bodies are curtailing efforts to grow the industry as most of the money they generate is gobbled by the payments.
In interviews at the Zambezi Valley, the fishermen complained that they were being pushed out of business by the charges demanded by the authorities.
A representative of fishermen in Musuna, Hwange, Mr Mathis Muleya said they were being charged $2 500 per annum by the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to get a fishing permit.
“We also pay $500 lease fee per year to the rural council, $75 lake navigation fee and $70 per month for trading licence fee,” said Mr Muleya on behalf of Katuya and Twite Fishing Co-operative.
As if that was not enough, the fisherman also said they paid $50 for inspection per annum.
“We also pay $25 per month patrol fee and $14 health fee per month per person. We also pay 15 percent of income generated per month to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority,” said Muleya.
The fisherman said it was sad that almost everyone was demanding money from them.
“We really don’t know what is happening because we are paying tax to both the national parks and to Binga Rural District Council (BRDC). Right now we are not making any profit because we are just working for these organisations,” said Mr Muleya.
“Sometimes the BRDC come to consult us but when they make final decisions they don’t give us a feedback. They just impose their decisions without coming back to us,” he said.
Binga Council chairman Mr Dube Munkombwe confirmed that the fishermen were being shortchanged through double taxation.
“What happens as council we buy bulk permits from the national parks and lease them to the fishermen. However, national parks still goes to those fishermen and demand more money as well and this is where the problem is,” said Mr Munkombwe.
“There is a need for clarity on this issue. The challenge is that the council has no stake in the management of natural resources,” said Mr Munkombwe.
A local director of a non-governmental organisation, Basilwizi, Mr Frank Mudimba, said there was a need to look into the issue so that the sector could contribute to the success of Zim Asset.
“The duplication in the payment of fees by the National Parks and the council cannot be justified. Due to exorbitant licensing fees, the traders are forced to raise the price of fish to recover the costs. You find out that a fish which was supposed to cost a dollar is now selling at $2.These taxes are negating the spirit of Zim Asset which seeks to empower local people by ensuring that they utilise natural resources,” said Mr Mudimba.
“Zim Asset is a good document but if such issues are not addressed it will not produce the intended the targets,” said Mr Mudimba.
Binga District chief executive officer Mr Joshua Muzamba said there was an information gap between the fishermen, council and stakeholders.
“The fishermen are free to approach the council through their representative and officially lodge their complaint so that we can discuss that in our council meetings,” said Mr Muzamba.
When contacted for comment the National Parks spokesperson Ms Caroline Washaya Moyo just said “what you are asking me is not new”.
When asked if there were efforts to resolve the impasse, Ms Washaya Moyo said: “What we said long back about that issue has not changed.”
Early this year, the organisation said the fee increase was also a way of curbing fish poaching especially along the Zambezi River.
