Director Praises Beach Village Committee's Self-Financing Success
The beach village committee model has communities co-managing threatened marine resources alongside authorities across Malawi's lake districts.
MANGOCHI, Malawi- The Director of Fisheries has praised a beach village committee in Mangochi for its remarkable self-financing efforts to manage local fishery resources, calling it a model for others to follow, writes Maureen Kawerama.
On a visit Thursday to Namaso Beach Village Committee, Dr. Hastings Zidana commended the group's organization and self-sufficiency, which has seen it raise over K2.4 million Malawi through various income-generating activities.
"Namaso BVC is well-organized and self-sufficient, demonstrating exemplary management of their structures and functions," Zidana said.
The committee runs a livestock farming operation with 13 goats, supplies maize to a local primary school's feeding program, and even brings in 10,000 kwacha monthly from a paid toilet facility for fishers at the beach.
Bosco Msuku, the committee's chairperson, said the self-raised funds have allowed Namaso BVC to be financially independent in managing fisheries and coastal resources.
However, he noted one key challenge remains - the need for a boat and engine to enhance operations. Zidana assured that his department would address this.
The director credited the USAID-funded Refresh project, implemented by Pact Malawi, with building the capacity of beach village committees like Namaso's.
He was accompanied on the visit by Refresh's chief of party Dr. Daniel Jamu and deputy Amakhonsi Jere.
Namaso's success showcases the potential of local initiatives in sustainable resource management when communities are empowered, officials said.
The beach village committee model has communities co-managing threatened marine resources alongside authorities across Malawi's lake districts.