Zimbabwe’s extensive freshwater systems has over 10,000 dams covering 3,910 km² supporting inland fisheries and aquaculture, encompassing a wide range of species and activities including trout, catfish, tilapia, sport fishing, crocodile farming, and ornamental fish farming. These play a significant role in the country’s economy and rural livelihoods. The sector supports approximately 48,000 livelihoods, with 4,000 people employed in aquaculture, and 44,000 in inland fisheries. Aquaculture production has increased by 24%, averaging 32,000 MT per annum, with a deliberate shift from fisheries to aquaculture due to the decline in capture fisheries. Zimbabwe aims to transform its fisheries and aquaculture sector into a US$1 billion economy by 2030, with plans to produce at least 14,000 MT of farmed tilapia annually and generate US$22 million in value. National fish production for 2024 was estimated at 31,290 MT. Per capita fish consumption for Zimbabwe is 3.2 kg, and national demand is estimated at 60,000 MT.
The Government of Zimbabwe has implemented initiatives to promote fisheries and aquaculture development, improve food security, and enhance livelihoods of fishing communities through the Presidential Community Fisheries and Presidential Borehole Drilling Schemes, flagship programmes under Rural Development 8.0 (RD 8.0). The strategic drilling of boreholes by the Government of Zimbabwe in every village, with each borehole supporting the establishment of two fish ponds, has proactively introduced climate-proofing technologies to enhance resilience in aquaculture, thereby boosting fish production and food security. Combined, these programmes aim to help substitute imports, generate exports, create employment, and increase household incomes. Under RD 8.0, 4,163 fish ponds have been stocked in the last 2 years, with youth, women, and pensioners being major beneficiaries. Youth accounted for 4,490 participants in aquaculture programs in 2024, with a balanced gender representation of 2,490 males and 2,000 females.
However, challenges persist, including limited access to quality fingerlings and feed, high production costs, and inadequate legal frameworks. To address these challenges, the government has also introduced initiatives such as fingerling hubs to improve access to quality fingerlings. Establishment of fish breeding sites is also on-going across the country. The project aims to address the high demand and low supply of quality fingerlings by establishing five government breeding sites in different parts of the country and distributing genetically selected high-performance fish seed. With regards to feed production, different protein source alternatives including insect protein source like Black Soldier Fly (BSF) are being explored to lower fish feed costs. Strengthened enforcement measures and supportive policies and legislation are under development to ensure a comprehensive legal framework and long-term sustainability and productivity of the sector.