The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema in Kariba
GOVERNMENT has pledged to rescue the Kariba Invitational Tiger Fishing tournament, which appears to be on its last legs.
For the fourth straight year the contest failed to attract its usual numbers both in terms of attendance and fish. The effects of poaching and the ever decreasing water levels at Lake Kariba continue to take their tow on the tournament. “Catches have been terrible, absolutely terrible,” bemoaned tournament director Rob Bennet, upon the conclusion of this year’s edition Friday night. “We can’t put our fingers on it yet, but the catches were low and that was very apparent to everybody this time around.”
The Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhosini Hlongwane, who was the guest of honour at the conclusion of the tournament, said Government is determined to support all aquatics-based sports.
“This is a very well organised event, I have been told. This might be my first visit here, but I am well acquainted with the tournament’s reputation,” he said.
“Unfortunately, it appears as if all aquatics-based sports seem to have taken a knock lately. This has been caused by a combination of the relative negative performance of the economy and some manmade causes like poaching.”
Hlongwane revealed that a programme to resuscitate water bodies was in place with Lake Chivero being the first beneficiary.
“The management of our water bodies is of paramount importance to my ministry and these include Lake Chivero, Kariba, Mutirikwi and many others.
“To enable the success of recreation, all these water bodies have to be taken care of and we have already started a project meant to resuscitate all these aforementioned water bodies, starting with Lake Chivero.
“We have secluded an area of the lake for recreation, which we will personally police, and have roped in scientists mandated with making sure fish breed again. “I am hoping that in the next 18 months, results will start showing and then we will begin moving from lake to lake and resurrect all these ailing hot spots,” he said.
Meanwhile, Finn’s Fishing emerged the biggest winner with a yield of 80kgs. Second-placed Charter B finished with a 42,73 kgs yield. The two will be joined by Isuzu Trucks (38,25kgs), Maguire’s Chicago (27,58kgs), Team Sahwira (25,53ks), Willie Brigade (24,69kgs), Umi Sharks (23,04kgs), M&M Fire Tigers (22,53kgs), Food Lovers Market (21,92kgs) and ITS Broken Zambia (21,35kgs) at next year’s Test of the Best Tiger Fishing Tournament.
