By REBECCA MUSHOTA? –

A ZAMBIAN fishmonger is being held by marine officers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for allegedly fishing on Congolese waters.

Luapula Police chief Malcolm Mulenga said yesterday that Police were investigating the matter in which a fishmonger from Mwense had been allegedly abducted by marines from the DRC who were demanding money for his release.?

Mr Mulenga said the fishmonger, Lameck Mukonda, 30, and another fishmonger Shadrick Mulenga, 27, of Munkapa Village in Chief Kashiba’s area in Mwense were found fishing by Congolese marines who had strayed to Kapundu Fishing Camp on Luapula River on the Zambian side on Friday around 20:30 hours.

It is alleged that the soldiers arrested them and went with them in their marine patrol boat upwards the Luapula River, where another two Zambian fishmongers of Lobola Village in Mwense who were found fishing at Nsumbu Fishing Camp, were apprehended.

The Congolese marines are said to have gone to Kamulete Harbour where they found six others and wanted to apprehend them too.

“But there was resistance and the three fishmongers already in custody managed to escape together with the six found at the harbour, leaving only Lameck Mukonda alone in the marine boat,” Mr Mulenga said.

It was alleged that the marines took Mr Mukonda to the DRC and were now allegedly demanding K700 for his release.

Mr Mulenga said this was according to a family member who went to the DRC to negotiate for Mr Mukonda’s release.

He said Police were investigating the matter.

Meanwhile, Fisheries authorities in Nchelenge District of Luapula Province have said the rampant use of illegal fishing methods is frustrating the sustainable management of the fisheries.

District Fisheries research officer, Masiliso Phiri, said fishers in the area had continued using illegal fishing gear with impunity and had no regard for the law.

Ms Phiri said the lawlessness that was being exhibited by the fishmongers, especially the illegal settlers in Government-gazzetted fish breeding areas of Potolo, Kashilu, Kanakashi, Mupitwa and Mifimbo, was an assault on the prudent management of the fish resource.

She complained that a combined team of Village Fisheries Management Committees (VFMCs), Police officers and officers from the Department of Fisheries were pelted with stones at Kanakashi during routine operations yesterday.

“The patrol team was forced to abandon what they were doing yesterday as stones and other objects were thrown at the officers by the ungrateful fishers,” she said.

?Ms Phiri disclosed that nine illegal fishing nets, five mosquito nets, seven heaps of ropes and five sticks used during fishing were confiscated and burnt during the operation.

She said 12 seine nets, six ropes, two boats, six paddling sticks and 32 kg of fresh fish were also confiscated during the same operation.