Mzimba Fisheries District office has demonstrated distress on stealing of fish in ponds within extension planning areas in the district which include Kazomba, Chikangawa and Manyamula,

According to Andrew Saukani, District Fisheries Officer said the on-going practice of stealing fish has to be checked to avoid neutralizing efforts in promoting fish farming in the district.

“This act of malpractice must be checked thoroughly to avoid regrets because the thieves use poisonous substances which can also kill all fish in the ponds including the fingerlings”, Saukani said.

He added that the department in conjunction with other stakeholders is planning for long term measures to end the malpractice.

“We are planning to formulate by-laws which will among other things stipulate that any person selling fresh farmed fish within Mzimba has to produce a clearance letter signed by a chairperson of fish farming club within a given area,” explained Saukani.

Jonathani Nyirenda, fish farmer from Makazi Fish Club under Manyamula Extension Planning Area said the malpractice is a sabotage element to fish farming.

“The act of stealing fish in a pond is something that discourages a lot of people into the system and i would have loved that the department should do something about it”, Nyirenda said

Stealing is a habit which hinders people from prospering in life and causes a lot of damage in developmental activities in the any country.