Acturus Mine, Goromonzi – The Zimbabwean government, through its Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Department, has initiated a youth empowerment drive by donating 2,000 tilapia fingerlings to vulnerable young women at Acturus Mine in Goromonzi.
For the next six months, the 17 young mothers, many of whom became pregnant as teenagers, will take turns raising the fish to maturity. They anticipate a harvest of between 800 kilograms and one tonne.
The Pamodzi Fisheries and Fresh Produce Project is the first independent group in Zimbabwe to benefit from the Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme, launched in 2022.
“We leveraged the existing infrastructure of a fenced fish pond and horticulture garden to donate these 2,000 fingerlings. We’ve committed to constructing another fish pond to further support their vegetable project. Tilapia bream is an ideal choice as it’s hardy and thrives in this environment. The market is strong, with Zimbabweans increasingly favoring this species over others like catfish,” said Tinashe Milton Makumbe, Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Department, during the handover ceremony at the defunct mine.
Through training provided by the Unlimited Hope Alliance Trust, founded by Mary Chigumira, the Pamodzi group embarked on a fisheries and horticulture project to divert vulnerable young women from sex work.
“We identified several young women at this mine who are survivors of child marriage and gender-based violence, some of whom were even using drugs. We’ve provided these young mothers with a solar-powered borehole, a fish pond, and training in fish farming. They’ve successfully raised funds to start a poultry project, and the chicken waste will soon be used to fertilize the fish pond,” said Ms. Chigumira.
In 2016, Acturus Mine ceased operations, leading to the layoff of over 500 employees. Metallon Gold, the former owner, later sold the mine to TN Gold, owned by lawyer Tawanda Nyambirai.
Subsequent legal battles at the mine caused significant hardships for former workers and their families. Many young girls dropped out of school and turned to sex work as a means of survival.
Rumbidzai Wilson, now 21, began engaging in sex work at the age of 16 after facing poverty and hardship. She testified that some of her peers were also lured into sex work by illegal gold miners who invaded the disused mine.
“I initially worked in people’s fields, but life became increasingly difficult, forcing me into sex work. Now, thanks to these empowering projects, I’m busy and safe, and I don’t foresee returning to prostitution,” Rumbidzai said.
The Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme aims to lift vulnerable youths like Rumbidzai out of poverty, prostitution, and substance abuse.
To date, the program has empowered 30 Youth Business Units and 973 Village Business Units, with at least 21% of these units led by women.


