Fishing co-operatives face challenges
Saturday, 21 May 2011 21:09
By Emilia Zindi
recently in Chibuyu, Binga
MEMBERS of the Chizuminano co-operative arrive from a night fishing trip with only two trays weighing less than 100kg. FISHING co-operatives operating in Kariba Dam in the Chibuyu area of Binga are appealing for assistance in the form of boats and nets to boost their operations.
The co-operatives, whose membership numbers from 20 to 30, are facing serious operating challenges as they compete with established companies in the kapenta fishing industry.
The members of the co-operatives are using dilapidated boats, with some being forced to use canoes.
This is in sharp contrast with established companies that are using well-equipped fishing boats.
The established companies are enjoying bigger catches than the co-operative members, yet the two sides are competing for the same market.
One such fishing co-operative that has problems with its equipment is Chizuminano, whose membership stands at 10. Co-operative secretary Mr Siyamukange Manheru said they started the venture in 1993.
He said since then members had only managed to buy a single boat.
“If we can have more than one boat, things will improve as we are competing with big companies that have more than three boats,’’ said Mr Manheru.
He said due to the shortage of fishing boats, the co-operative was able to catch only between four and five tonnes a month compared to the established companies that can haul in more than 20 tonnes.
Mr Manheru said while the co-operative has three licences, it had only been able to use one due to a lack of fishing boats and nets.
He said as a result of shortage of equipment, established companies had taken advantage and were now fishing in areas demarcated for co-operatives.
“The dam is divided into basins, with us owning the area that covers Kudu,” said Mr Manheru. “But we are seeing companies fishing in our area as their areas are not giving them a good catch during this period.’’
Mr Manheru said since they competed with established companies, it was equally important that roads leading to the fishing camps be accessible as co-operatives did not have transport to take their produce to the market as was the case with the big companies.
“We have to wait for customers to come to us of which not many do so because of poor roads,” he said.
“So you find that we can get stuck with our kapenta, while the companies push their catch fast.’’
Mr Manheru said it was the responsibility of the National Parks and Wildlife Authority to see to it that companies did not encroach onto areas reserved for cooperatives.
A parks official in the area, who refused to be named, said they acted only if the co-operatives reported the cases.
He said it was common during this time of the season that certain areas of the dam could have less kapenta.
As a result, there was a lot of encroaching onto each other’s areas, but the operators had to understand their areas of jurisdiction.
The official bemoaned the need to give a break on kapenta fishing in the lake to allow breeding.
He said it was sad that it was only in Zimbabwe where kapenta fishing was conducted non-stop, yet in countries such as Malawi a three-month break is observed every year.
“Global warming is causing reduction in breeding as the plant that the kapenta feed on is being destroyed,’’ said the parks official.
- The Sunday Mail
Labels: COOPERATIVES, FISHING, KARIBA
Read more...
Zesco installs third generator at Kariba
Written by Kabanda Chulu
Sunday, September 27, 2009 2:11:01 AM
ZESCO Limited has finally installed the third generator at Kariba North Bank power station to produce 540 mega watts of power following a fire last week. This forced the power utility to shut down its generating equipment, leading to increased load shedding across the country.
However, load shedding to some areas of Lusaka would continue due to the late arrival of the high voltage step-down transformer that is expected to be installed at the Leopards Hill substation in Lusaka to replace the one that got burnt last June.
Confirming the development yesterday, Zesco Limited acting managing director Cyprian Chitundu said the problems of power shortages that were caused by the fire at the Kariba North Bank power station in Siavonga district were over.
“When fire swept through the power station last week, three machines went off and during the past week we have been working tirelessly to install the machines to full generation and as at yesterday we installed the third machine and now we have full production of 540 mega watts that was taken out when the machines went off,” said Chitundu. “But we have not yet received the high voltage transformer that will be installed at Leopards Hill substation to replace the one that got burnt recently hence we shall be having a few problems of power shortages (load shedding) for some areas of Lusaka.”
Last week, fire swept through the 720 mega watts installed capacity- Kariba North Bank power station, which caused some generating machines to be shutdown and led to loss of lives and several casualties.
However, electricity supply to economic activities such as the mines and other large industries was not affected.
It is not clear how the fire started since Zesco is still carrying out investigations.
However, some sources claimed that the Chinese contractors working at the extension project for two additional machines caused the fire through welding and blasting processes.
Labels: ELECTRIFICATION, ENERGY, KARIBA, ZESCO
Read more...
Zesco losing K1.3bn per day
Written by Florence Bupe
Monday, September 21, 2009 4:49:20 PM
ZESCO Limited is losing in excess of US $300,000 [about K1.3 billion] per day due to non-generation of power at the Kariba North Bank Hydro Power Station following a fire that swept through the station last Friday. And energy minister Kenneth Konga on Saturday visited the funeral houses of two victims of the Kariba North Bank inferno where he donated three bags of mealie meal and packets of beef.
In an interview, Zesco acting managing director Cyprian Chitundu said the power utility was losing substantial amounts of income as the station had halted power generation. Chitundu said 540 mega watts of power were being lost on a daily basis.
“We are losing an average of US $300,000 of income daily, which is quite substantial. However, we will only be able to assess the total revenue loss after we rectify the problem. We are working round the clock to ensure that we clear the debris from the inferno as soon as possible, and we hope by Monday [today] we should be able to resume normal supply to our customers so that major economic activities are not affected,” he said.
Chitundu said the loss went beyond physical infrastructure and direct revenue.
“There will definitely be a loss in confidence from our customers and the public at large. Our staff will also be traumatised, and this in itself, could affect their output. It is unfortunate that we are not able to foresee such events. We were in the process of expanding generation through additional infrastructure, and this is definitely a blow to our efforts. Power generation is a dynamic undertaking, and therefore it is hard to completely avoid such happenings,” Chitundu said.
Two people were burnt to death in the tunnels of the power plant, while more than 33 were hospitalised with burns and respiratory disorders as a result of fume inhalation.
Of the number that was admitted, 25 victims have been discharged, while one has been evacuated to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) with 48 degree burns to the abdomen and upper legs, and is said to be in a critical condition.
And Konga visited the funeral houses of the two victims last Saturday afternoon, at which he donated three bags of mealie meal.
Konga consoled the bereaved families, and said the government would assist with the funeral expenses.
“What happened has already happened. All you have to do is put everything in God’s hands and he will see you through. If you need anything, you can inform Zesco management and we will be able to take care of it,” he said.
Earlier after a preliminary inspection of the gutted site, Konga expressed anger at the non-compliance of safety standards by the Chinese contractor Sinohydro, whom he blamed for the fire.
“It is lack of observance of safety rules that leads to such tragedies. The Chinese need to work in line with the Zambian law; it’s either they do that or we find ways of terminating their contract,” Konga said. “The preliminary investigations show that the fire started from the contractor’s site as a result of a spark from welding works. Despite efforts made to put out the fire, the inferno spread. It is unfortunate that we have lost lives in the process. There was clearly an element of negligence and lack of adherence to safety regulations.”
Konga said once experts assessed the complete level of damage to the powerhouse, the government would move in if required to repair the damage.
However, he could not estimate in value terms how much damage had been caused to the plant.
Konga disclosed that he had summoned the leadership of Sinohydro to get an explanation on the accident.
He said the Zambian government would write to the Chinese government to express disappointment on the work culture and attitude of most Chinese firms.
Konga commended the Zimbabwean Fire Brigade and the Zambian armed forces for their effort in putting out the fire.
Labels: HYDRO POWER, KARIBA, ZESCO
Read more...
Row erupts over 'Kariba Draft'
by Lebo Nkatazo
25/06/2009 00:00:00
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe says
a new constitution for Zimbabwe should be drawn from the ‘Kariba Draft’ – putting him on a collision course with his Zanu PF party’s ruling coalition partners.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said on Tuesday that it would “reject any attempts to have the ‘Kariba Draft’ … adopted as the Alpha and Omega of the constitution-making process”.
The so-called ‘Kariba Draft’ constitution was crafted by lawyers – including Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube and Patrick Chinamasa -- from the three parties to the power sharing agreement in the picturesque town of Kariba in September 2007.
The document was made available to the public for the first time as Annexure B to the power-sharing agreement of September 15, 2008, signed by the two MDC formations and Zanu PF (see the ‘Kariba Draft’ in full).
Despite its initial support, Tsvangirai’s MDC has been retreating following opposition to the ‘Draft’ from constitutional reform campaign groups who say there should be no guiding document to a “people-driven” constitution.
Mugabe told the Zanu PF central committee on Wednesday: “We should accordingly educate ourselves about the contents of the Kariba Draft Constitution and explain it to our people as well as asking them their own views on it.
“We should properly educate our people so as to enable them to make informed decisions."
Mugabe comments will rile the MDC which fears Zanu PF wants the new constitutional reform process to be a referendum on the ‘Kariba Draft’.
“The MDC believes in a truly people-driven constitution-making process where the unfettered will of the people must be reflected,” the party’s national executive said in a statement on Tuesday.
Campaign group the National Constitutional Assembly says on its website that the writing of the ‘Kariba Draft’ “by a handful of political elites” without consulting the public is “an undemocratic usurpation of the right of Zimbabweans to write a constitution for themselves (read its analysis of Kariba Draft’.”
Zimbabwe began parliament-led constitutional hearings across the country’s five provinces on Wednesday which are expected to culminate in a new constitution by December next year.
Labels: AMAI MUGABE, CONSTITUTION, KARIBA
Read more...
Zimbabwe journalists urge end to tough media laws
Written by Cris Chinaka
Monday, May 11, 2009 11:49:05 PM
KARIBA, Zimbabwe (Reuters) - Zimbabwean journalists want the country's new unity government to scrap tough media laws which critics say President Robert Mugabe has used to muzzle his opponents. The journalists' recommendations follow demands by Western donors who want to see political and media reforms in Zimbabwe before they will provide aid.
Mugabe's ZANU-PF party adopted regulations seven years ago imposing strict registration conditions for private news organisations, barring foreign journalists from basing themselves in the country and authorising almost routine arrests of journalists accused of reporting "falsehoods".
In recommendations to the government formed by Mugabe and his old rival Morgan Tsvangirai three months ago, a media consultative convention said the laws were undemocratic and violated the right to free expression.
"We recommend that AIPPA (Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act) be replaced by two laws, a Freedom of Information Act, which will open up the media environment, and a Media Practitioners' Registration Act, making registration of journalists a formality," the conference said.
Western donors are demanding that the unity government carry out wider political and media reforms before committing funding to Zimbabwe's economic recovery programme.
Deputy Media, Information and Publicity Minister Jameson Timba told convention participants that their recommendations would be considered alongside other contributions from other stakeholders.
"The government will make the final decision, but it is going to invite other players, including those who are not here, to submit their views," Timba, a member of Prime Minister Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said.
Labels: JOURNALISM, KARIBA
Read more...
Zesco seeks K380bn for Kafue, Kariba
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Thursday March 13, 2008 [03:00]
ZESCO Limited requires US $100 million (about K380 billion) to expedite uprating works at Kafue Gorge and Kariba North Bank power stations, company managing director Rhodnie Sisala has disclosed. And Zesco director for transmission and generation Christopher Nthala has said completion works of uprating two generator sets with 165 megawatts each at Kafue Gorge Power Station was not likely to reduce load shedding as the country’s demand for power had continued to skyrocket. In an interview, Sisala said Zesco had managed to overcome all the bottlenecks it faced earlier and that the rehabilitation work was in progress.
“Initially, our objective was only to renovate the equipment but later we saw that as an opportunity to upgrade the equipment and that meant doing a lot more work,” Sisala said.
“As a result of that, the total cost of the projects has increased from our initial estimates of US $210 million to US $305 million. And so we need about US $100 million to finance that gap.
“We have engaged a number of lenders and we have secured some money but we have not secured the full amount of money required to complete this project. The government has come to our rescue and they have said in the interest of completing this project as soon as possible, they would like to know from Zesco how much is required to complete the projects so that they can provide those financial resources. And I wish to confirm that we have already submitted to our parent ministry our estimates of what is required to complete this project and we are very hopeful that this will be given favourable consideration.
“We have had some challenges because of delayed payment but all those issues have been resolved, the contractors are back on site and are working very well.”
And Nthala explained that the Kafue Gorge Power Station was only going to recoup its full capacity of the plant after December this year.
“By June this year, we are going to bring on stream two generating sets number six and seven at Kafue Gorge with an addition generating capacity of 330 megawatts,” Nthala said.
“This will result in a restoration of full capacity of the power station but this will only last for about two days because later, we will remove generator number two which will knock out 150 megawatts from the system. And later we will remove another 150 megawatts generator set for about two months. So as we will restore 330 megawatts in June, we will take out another 330 megawatts, so the full capacity of the plant will only be restored after December.”
Labels: KARIBA, ZESCO
Read more...
Huge uranium deposits found in Kariba - Dr Mwansa
By Joan Chirwa
Thursday July 26, 2007 [04:00]
EQUINOX Minerals Limited has announced that it has found significant uranium deposits at its Lumwana project in North Western Province. And mines minister Dr Kalombo Mwansa has said huge uranium deposits have been found in Kariba.
Equinox initiated a uranium feasibility study (UFS) at Malundwe in North Western Province, and results indicate intercepts above 0.3 per cent of uranium.
Company president and chief executive officer Craig Williams said the drilling programme currently underway appeared to be defining discrete and coherent mineralised zones with significant uranium grades at Malundwe.
“In addition to this Malundwe work, Equinox is proactively exploring additional regional uranium targets within its 1,355 km2 Lumwana Mining Licence and Equinox’s regional tenements,” stated Williams in his comments on the uranium drill results.
“Recent heliborne radiometric surveying and reprocessed fixed wing radiometric data has proven very successful in identifying and delivering numerous additional uranium channel anomalies for our teams to investigate outside of the UFS. “
Williams states that the results suggest further uranium potential in the region as the company works to expand the total Lumwana uranium resource.
Uranium within the Malundwe and Chimiwungo copper deposits at Lumwana occurs as discrete uranium-enriched zones that will be mined separately during the copper mining operation.
The resources would be revised on completion of the current UFS programme.
The company’s UFS drill programme commenced in April 2007 and comprises approximately 16,000m in 160 drill holes that will extend along a 2km strike length of the Malundwe copper deposit within the currently designed main Malundwe open pit.
On completion of this drilling programme, drill hole collar spacing will average 50m x 50m and in some areas the density will have been increased to 25m x 25m to increase statistical definition of the resources.
And Dr Mwansa said preliminary exploration works in Kariba have revealed huge deposits if uranium in the area.
“There is a lot of prospecting going on. I can tell you that there are signs of uranium deposits in Kariba and in North Western Province as well. Although copper is being mined there, uranium has also been found,” Dr Mwansa said.
“The ministry has already established a document to govern the mining of uranium. This document is currently with the Ministry of Justice and after the process is over, people will be invited to get licenses for the mining of uranium.”
Labels: EQUINOX, KALOMBO MWANSA, KARIBA, URANIUM
Read more...
