Mbanza Kongo – As part of the Poverty Reduction Programme, various pieces of artisanal fishing equipment were handed over on Tuesday to fishermen in Kinzau commune, Tomboco municipality, Zaire province.
The means handed over to the fishing cooperatives by the municipal administrator of Tomboco, Paulino Nzuzi Mpoloantinu, include nets, buoys, motors, hooks and other artefacts.
At the occasion, the municipal administrator said that the delivery of this equipment to the artisanal fishing cooperatives was part of the government's strategy to increase fish catch levels.
The official urged the beneficiaries to make correct use of the equipment in order to guarantee the population's food security.
The representative of the Agro Unido farming cooperative, Sebastião António, praised the Tomboco Municipal Administration's initiative, emphasising that the resources will help to increase fish catch levels.
In turn, the chairman of the Tusalakweto Comercial cooperative, Pedro Filipe, said that the equipment will overcome the difficulties faced by local fishermen.
“We hope that this support will continue and that it can also cover other artisanal fishing cooperatives in our commune”, he said.
With an estimated population of more than 10,000 inhabitants, the fishing commune of Kinzau is 92 kilometres from the municipal centre of Tomboco. JL/MRA/DOJ
