By REBECCA MUSHOTA in Siavonga –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has launched Yalelo Fish Farm in Siavonga with a call on private players to work with the Government in order to create more jobs in the fishing industry.
President Lungu launched the farm yesterday, which is located in Kamimbi Village in Chief Simamba’s area in Siavonga and on the shores of Lake Kariba, and harvests tilapia.
The fish farm is owned by 16 institutional investors based in Zambia, United Kingdom and the United States.

• PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu (c) cuts the ribbon along with chairperson of the board Adam Taylor (l) and director of Yalelo Zambian Fish, Fisho Mwale in Siavonga yesterday. Picture by ROYD SIBAJENE/ZANIS

President Lungu said there was need for partnerships between local and foreign investors and the Government to encourage growth of Zambia’s Fish Industry.
“The future of fisheries development in Zambia lies in partnerships between Government and the private sector. The private sector also has a responsibility to play its part in the development of a vibrant aquaculture industry,” Mr Lungu said.
He was happy to launch Yalelo at a time that he had recently made statements on the need for Zambia to significantly increase fish farming.
Fish production, especially aquaculture fish production, would lead to increased job creation, improved access to proteins as well as increased exports to neighbouring countries.
President Lungu said Zambia should reduce fish imports because importing fish was denying Zambians of jobs.
He said the Ministry of Agriculture should ensure that investments were channeled towards increasing the country’s fish production to add to the US$50 million partnership between the Government and African Development Bank investment in the sector.
The President was confident that Yalelo Fish Farm would contribute to the reduction of fish imports to zero in about two years.
The company produces 5,000 tonnes of fish per day and will be producing 15,000 in three months.
During the tour of the fish hatcheries, President Lungu urged the company to invest in production of fish feed because feed was a challenge in Zambia.
Earlier when he met chiefs Simamba and Sinadambwe, President Lungu said the Government wanted to ensure that investors ploughed back in the hosting communities by creating jobs.
Agriculture Minister Given Lubinda said the ministry was undertaking an aquaculture investment plan which involved creation of aqua parks and construction of fish hatcheries in order to increase fish production.
Yalelo Board chairperson Adam Taylor said construction of the farm started in 2011 and currently has 275 employees.
The company has one of the largest tilapia cages in the world.
Mr Taylor said with six more institutions such as Yalelo, Zambia would no longer import fish.
“We would like to see the Government control illegal fish importation and provide a level playing field,” Mr Taylor said.
Chief Simamba said the Government should quickly electrify the lakeshore to encourage investment.