Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri confirmed the meeting at a press conference in Harare.
This comes after Zimbabwean officials arrested eight Zambian men in January this year for allegedly fishing illegally on Harare’s side of Lake Kariba
Zambia appealed for the men to be freed.
“My appeal to the Zimbabwean government is to have mercy to the youths (fishermen) by allowing them to pay a fine to the offence which they committed,†Zambia’s Siavonga District Commissioner (DC) Lovemore Kanyama said at the time.
The appeal was of little consequence however, as the fishermen were sentenced to two years in jail with hard labour by a Zimbabwean Court.
And earlier this month 21 Zimbabwean nationals were arrested by Zambian Police for illegally fishing in Zambian waters on Lake Kariba. The suspects fishing rigs were also seized.
Siavonga District Commissioner Kanyama told local media that the arrested Zimbabweans would only be released if Harare freed the jailed Zambian fishermen.
On Wednesday, minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri urged calm.
“We are meeting to discuss these issues and I would want to encourage the media not to over blow the situation … this is an economic war which has to be tackled carefully and immediately,†she said.
Muchinguri-Kashiri blamed the dispute on declining water levels due to drought, a problem that has also seen the two countries struggle with serious power supply problems.
Reports suggest that Lake Kariba is presently just around 15% full.
“The low levels of water in the lake owing to the El Nino phenomenon which brought little rains have been the main reason for fights and arrests taking place in the Zambezi waters between Zimbabweans and Zambian fishermen.
“The shallow waters no longer contain any fish and the little kapenta in the deep waters is the reason for the fights.
“So I am meeting with my Zambian counterpart … to discuss the matter and find ways to improve on the situation,†Muchinguri-Kashiri said.
Post published in: Agriculture