Monday, April 12, 2021
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Adverts
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Business Business News

Malawians stranded with fish in Botswana

by Bobby Kabango
09/06/2017
in Business News
2 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

Hungry and broke, fish traders, some of them Malawians have been stuck for four months in the tourism town of Maun in northern Botswana after Botswana government banned the exportation of dried fish.

At least 60 traders mostly from Zambia and Malawi make a living from buying dried fish from fishermen at Lake Ngami near Maun and sell it in the DRC. But this year government caught them off guard when the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Tourism moved to ban the export of dried fish.

RelatedHeadlines

Icam, MIM unveil post-graduate course in finance

Traders cry foul over land border closures

Ultra poor feel economic pinch

A statutory notice published in March this year prohibits the export of dried fish for the next 12 months. Government said the decision comes after realising that foreign fishermen are fishing. Fish export is a big business in northern Botswana, a semi-arid country of two million people bordering Zambia, Zimbabwe South Africa and Namibia.

The ban has caused a severe blow to traders who said they only knew about it after buying the dry fish.

When Business News visited Boseja ward in Maun where the traders had been holed for four months, there was a feeling of anxiety and panic from traders who say they are afraid of the police.

Patricia Mboma from Blantyre said she makes profit by selling her dry fish to Zambian traders, a routine she developed since 2014.

“When the government announced the ban, it was a shock to us. We never expected that, we have been talking to the government to allow us go and sell the fish we have loaded but since March we been told nothing,” she said.

Being stranded in a foreign country for four months has presented challenges for Mboma and other traders. The traders frequently cross the border to Zambia and Malawi only to renew their stay in Botswana. The quality of the fish has been affected. Mboma has spent P30 000 [K2.2 million] on her three bails of dry fish and is hoping for a miracle to get her money back.

“It is difficult how we will make money. This is why we are still pleading with the government to allow us to go.”

Minister for Environment, Wildlife and Tourism Tshekedi Khama, the younger brother to Botswana president, Ian Khama told a local Sunday broadsheet, the Sunday Standard that the ministry is alarmed over the size of dried fish leaving Botswana destined for Kasumbalesa in Zambia.

He stated that they took the decision to ban dried fish export after noticing that his government is not benefitting from the trade.

—*This story has been supported by the Center for Investigative Journalism Malawi, the Integrity Platform (Malawi) and INK Centre for investigative Journalism, Botswana.

Avatar
Bobby Kabango
Previous Post

Army chief speaks on lower league teams

Next Post

Apolisi mbweee! ku PAC

Related Posts

Gondwe (L) exchanges the MOU with Phiri
Business News

Icam, MIM unveil post-graduate course in finance

April 11, 2021
Tchukambiri: We 
are losing out
Business News

Traders cry foul over land border closures

April 9, 2021
Women are bearing the brunt of Covid-19 impacts
Business News

Ultra poor feel economic pinch

April 9, 2021
Next Post
DSCN9173 e1497029151464 | The Nation Online

Apolisi mbweee! ku PAC

Opinions and Columns

Political Uncensored

Managing the dream

April 11, 2021
My Thought

Malawi needs fixing, not politicking

April 11, 2021
People’s Tribunal

Don’t intimidate Nyasaland Union of Teachers

April 11, 2021
Emily Mkamanga

Longevity in power no solution

April 11, 2021
https://www.mwnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/WFP-Afikepo-1-2.pdf https://www.mwnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/WFP-Afikepo-1-2.pdf https://www.mwnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/WFP-Afikepo-1-2.pdf

Trending Stories

  • Malawi Airlines is yet to post a profit since it took to the skies

    Malawi Airlines faces liquidation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • MHC houses risk demolition

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Shareholders, Airtel tussle in court

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • MLS wants APM, Muhara property seized

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Industrial disputes choke IRC

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2021 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.