Zambia's Strategic Roadmap for Thriving Aquaculture Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

At independence in 1964, Zambia inherited a dualistic economy characterized by foreign-owned industries, with the copper industry dominating and rural small-scale peasants, most of whom migrated to the urban areas in search of formal employment. From 1968, the Zambian government took over majority control (‘zambianisation’ or nationalisation) in some of the foreign-owned industries, but the rate of employment was not sufficient to absorb the rapidly expanding urban population resulting in a lot of people remaining unemployed.  

A decline in international copper prices in the early 2000’s brought a recession to the Zambian economy resulting in the failure of the nationalised industries thereby ousting more people out of formal employment. Lack of employment and the call for diversification away from copper mining required most Zambians to find alternative means of survival, hence the establishment of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

A reduction in naturally occurring water bodies brought about by climate change have hampered fishing, however, the country has other favourable conditions such as good soil formation, availability of borehole water and an ideal climate which can support aquaculture. The Zambian government has been supportive of the development of aquaculture MSMEs and the said government efforts are the focus of this article.