By Golden Kang’oma

Salima, February 13, Mana: Restoring Fisheries for Sustainable Livelihoods in Lake Malawi (REFRESH) has donated bee keeping equipment worth K5 million to communities in Salima.

Speaking in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Maganga during the handover, REFRESH Chief of Party Dr Daniel Jamu said the project aims at fostering diversification from fisheries towards sustainable livelihoods and restoration of the environment.

“The project wants people along the lakeshore not only to rely on fishing but also venture into some other enterprises hence introducing them to bee keeping," he said.

Jamu said as the communities embrace the initiative, they are looking at continued forest restoration and land conservation which will lead to high fish production.

Salima District Commissioner, James Mwenda, said the initiative will help improve the social-economic status of the communities.

He said his office will ensure that it is sustainable and yield the desired results by making sure that there is availability of markets for the honey produced by the beneficiary clubs.

“The organization has done a very commendable job by giving these communities such equipment. These will go a long way in sustaining people’s livelihoods as well as help in fish and forest conservation,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Maria Fuleya, from Mlambe Club hailed the project for the initiative saying it will help communities to rely on multiple enterprises whilst restoring fisheries in the lake.

REFRESH project is implemented by PACT Malawi with funding from United States Agency for International Development (USAID).