Kapenta fishing cooperatives and sustainable rural livelihoods: the case of Chunga and Buumi Bubotu (Good Life) kapenta fishing cooperatives in Kaani ward, Binga.

Abstract

In Zimbabwe although there was a boom in the fisheries industry in the 1980s and 1990s especially in rural areas, the importance of the fishing industry was not considered critical. However, with the collapse of the agricultural sector, following the fast track land reform programme and subsequently the political and economic crises, brought renewed interest in the sector as people sought alternative forms of livelihoods. The vivid thrust of this unique research was to investigate the contribution of Kapenta Fishing Cooperatives brought to community of Kaani ward in Binga district towards sustainable rural livelihoods. This was to aid on the outcome of using natural resources for human survival in Kaani ward to fight against all forms of poverty. The research also brought out opportunities and challenges both the Kapenta Fishing Cooperatives face in promoting sustainable rural livelihoods and internal operations and lately drew up possible solutions from respondents involved in this research. The researcher used qualitative research approach to gather qualitative information accompanied by data collection tools including semi-structured and unstructured questionnaires, desktop review and interviews from key informants’ personnel such as Ministry of Small Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development and Local Leadership. The outputs from this research through purposive sampling indicate that kapenta fishing cooperatives have brought better than harm to the community of Kaani ward, Binga district. There has been a notifiable positive impact in rural livelihoods through kapenta fishing cooperatives which includes improved community participation, improvement in basic social welfare, debatable issue on human index development, women empowerment and participation and employment creation and opportunities.