Preserving a Source of Life

Zambia takes measures to protect water resources and ensure ecological progress

- Derrick Silimina

Africa is a haven of excellent natu-ral conditions and is rich in fresh-water bodies with great poten-tial to revamp its socio-economic development.

In Zambia, water resources form the basis of almost every aspect of life and include major rivers such as the mighty Zambezi River, Chambeshi River, Kafue River and Luangwa River. Others include Lake Kariba and the Itezhi-tezhi lake which all provide sustenance to animals, human life and biodiversity.

Supporting livelihood

Apart from sustaining biodiversity, water resources in the southern African country are critical for meeting the basic needs of industrial development, sanitation and waste management, factors that drive the social, economic, political and cultural development of the population along the rivers.

For instance, fishing is a big business in Zambia and is one of the sources of income for most of the people that live along major rivers such as the Zambezi.

“This business is our only source of livelihood here and without it, most of us wouldn’t be able to provide for our families,” said Memory Simushi, 32, who has been a fishmonger in Mongu district in western Zambia since 2018.

Each day around 3 a.m. when many people are deep in slumber, Simushi and other women of Nalolo area in Mongu district trek along the Barotse flood plains to buy the best fish from fishermen in the lower Zambezi fishing camp.

The two-hour journey on foot to reach the camp is quite challenging as the women have to walk in darkness. The fish they hope to buy is known as litapi in Lozi. The women will resell what they got in the fishing camp in Mongu town, a source of income to support their families. The fish sell like hot cake in the local market at K400 ($20) per basin, from which they make a profit of K100 to K150.