Zimbabwe is on the verge of passing its first-ever Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, marking a major milestone for the country’s aquatic food systems. The proposed legislation, supported by the global FISH4ACP programme, is poised to transform the sector into a driver of economic growth, food security, and employment.
The bill, developed under the guidance of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) through its FISH4ACP initiative, aims to provide a unified legal framework for fisheries and aquaculture in Zimbabwe.
The FISH4ACP programme is an initiative of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), funded by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
According to FAO’s subregional coordinator for Southern Africa and representative to Zimbabwe, Patrice Talla, the bill marks a critical turning point. He noted that the development process involved broad-based consultations nationwide, with a deliberate focus on including women and youth voices.
The groundwork for the legislation was laid in 2022, when FISH4ACP conducted a detailed value chain analysis of Zimbabwe’s aquaculture sector. The findings identified the need for a robust policy and legal framework to unlock the sector’s full potential.
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A game-changer for Zim’s aquaculture future
Milton Makumbe, director of the fisheries and aquaculture resources department at the ministry of lands, agriculture, fisheries, water and rural development, highlighted the bill’s capacity to streamline regulation and promote sustainability. He described it as a “game-changer” that could catalyse economic development and job creation.
Echoing this sentiment, Jobst von Kirchmann, EU ambassador to Zimbabwe, noted the tangible impact of the EU’s support through FISH4ACP, citing the bill as one of several milestones that includes the development of breeding centres and fingerling hubs. These are seen as essential to building an inclusive, high-value aquaculture value chain in the country.
The bill aligns with Zimbabwe’s ambition to produce 14 000 tonnes of farmed tilapia annually, generating an estimated USD 22 million (about R400 million) in value by 2032. This vision forms part of a broader strategy to build a USD 1 billion (about R18.2 billion) fish economy that combats hunger and malnutrition while promoting sustainable use of the country’s water resources.
At a recent stakeholder workshop, the draft legislation was reviewed and validated by representatives from across the industry. It now awaits parliamentary review and approval.
FAO has already contributed significantly to Zimbabwe’s aquaculture sector through the establishment and rehabilitation of breeding centres and distribution hubs, aiming to improve fish genetics and enhance productivity.
FISH4ACP, which runs from 2020 to 2025, focuses on strengthening the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of aquatic food value chains in 12 OACPS countries. Zimbabwe’s Nile tilapia aquaculture value chain was selected from more than 70 global proposals for targeted support.
Once enacted, the bill is expected to ease doing business in the fish industry, promote responsible investment, and safeguard the integrity of the aquaculture supply chain – from fingerlings to feed.
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