TWENTY-FOUR suspects from Lusaka and the fish ‘headquarters’ Luapula have this week been touched by the long arm of the law after going against the 2025/2026 annual fishing ban.
Two suspects in Kafue District of Lusaka Province became a painful part of fisheries enforcement after they were found with mosquito nets stretching over 3,200 metres, enough to trap a small village’s worth of fish.
The nets were confiscated on the spot and the suspects were promptly escorted to the Magistrate’s Court.
Meanwhile, Luapula Province better known as the hub of fish species witnessed 28 cases of non-compliance.
Chienge District led the pack with 14 offenders, Samfya District had eight and Nchelenge District six.
Fourteen offenders from Chienge and eight from Samfya appeared in court, while six from Nchelenge were merely warned and cautioned.
Confiscated gear included mosquito nets and mono-filament nets, deadly enough to wipe out entire generation of fish if left unchecked.
All the fisheries officers heard were screams of protest from the offenders as their nets were snatched and their freedom temporarily suspended.
Ministry Fisheries and Livestock spokesperson Benny Munyama, told #Kalemba via a statement that the ban on fishing is a statutory measure, not a new rule, meant to protect fish stocks and secure livelihoods for communities.
“Offenders should know that the law will catch up with them,” Munyama said.
“Communities who comply benefit from bigger fish stocks and better catches in the future. Those who think they can cheat the law will find that the river has eyes and the Ministry has hands.”
The suspects are currently appearing before the courts, awaiting judgment, while fisheries officers continue patrolling the riverbanks to ensure no illegal fishing gear escapes seizure during the ban period, which runs from December 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026.
By George Musonda
Kalemba January 7, 2026
