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Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
TRADITIONAL leaders in Binga have appealed to the government to review fees for fishing permits saying the $500 renewal charge per quarter was exorbitant.

The figure translates to $2,000 every year.

The permits issued by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority are up to five times costlier than those issued by Zambia and Mozambique on the same river.

Zambia charges $400 while Mozambique permits cost $600 per year. The government last year issued 17 fishing permits to traditional leaders in the fish rich area, in line with the country’s economic empowerment programmes.

The permits were presented to the chiefs by Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Cain Mathema in July last year during a visit to Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme in Binga.

In a recent interview, Chief Sikalenge, representing traditional leaders in the district said they had raised the issue with responsible authorities. “We were given fishing permits so that we’re empowered. This is a good development but the challenge now is that many of us will fail to renew the permits because of the high fees,” he said.

He appealed for government intervention on the issue.

“The $500 per quarter for permits is too much. We have engaged and we are waiting to be briefed on the way forward. We want the government to intervene,” he said.

There are 17 chiefs in Binga district.

Fish farmers in Binga had in the past complained about failure to access permits owing to the exorbitant licence fees. This resulted in the government move to issue the chiefs with permits.

Minister Mathema urged chiefs and their subjects to form business consortiums to start harvesting fish on a commercial scale.