Police in Zaka are searching for thieves who broke into Chinurumba Secondary School in Zaka and harvested nearly 500kg of fish from the school’s fish pond.
The fish were part of the Presidential Fish Scheme and the school benefited from the program earlier last year (2023) as part of preparations to host one of the most heavily subscribed Zanu PF rallies in the run-up to the 2023 harmonized elections.
The fish were donated to the school through the Presidential Fish Program where schools and communities with aquariums receive fingerlings from the government.
School principal Nixon Bhinyo confirmed the incident but was unable to shed further light on how it happened and referred all questions to District Schools Inspector (DSI) Samson Chidzorira.
Chidzorira confirmed that he received the report from the school and said he was told that about 500 kilograms of fish had been stolen and a police report had been prepared.
“I do not have complex details of what happened, but the school principal informed me of the incident and the matter has since been reported to the police,” Chidzorira said.
Commenting on the matter on the Zaka Development WhatsApp platform, Zaka central legislator and Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Davis Marabira, said it was frustrating that there were still people who opposed the development.
He also said there was a need for people to put security measures on important projects like these to avoid instances of theft.
“I am sorry for the loss and it tells me that we still have people in Ward 13 who are opposed to the President’s ideas on building the country through development. However, it is also important that people make sure that security measures are put in place when we get these projects.
“Everywhere there are important projects, even in wells or sunny parks, we must have security,” Marabera wrote.
He pledged to replace the stolen fish with double the amount, and assured people that the perpetrators would be arrested and brought to justice.
“The anti-development people cannot stop the president’s projects, and the thieves will be caught in no time. I will bring 4,000 to replace the 2,000 that were stolen,” Marabera wrote.
In July 2021, a Chinurumba fish farmer in Mohobi village under Chief Nhema was left counting losses when he lost nearly 2,000 sea bream to thieves who he suspected of using nets to harvest from his fish pond. Telezem News
