Maritime and fisheries experts say most fisheries resources in most parts of Africa have been overfished and this is why production has dwindled. They have also blamed climate change for low catches. However, if reports from Lake Malawi are something to go by, then scientists need to look more locally to understand the situation in the waters. According to a group of fishermen in Karonga, a lakeshore district in Malawi, if one does not use 'juju', or witchcraft, one cannot get enough fish from the lake.
"If you think I am telling you lies go into the lake with some nets and see if you can come out of it with any fish," says Ken Mwasangwale.
Each fish net is managed by three or five people, accompanied in each boat by a "juju man" who directs the other where to cast their nets. According to local sources, fishermen who ignore these directions will not catch any fish.
"Without them we cannot go into the waters and fish," said Mabvuto Mtonga, one of the fishermen at the lake. Mtonga added that in the event that these people are sick, "we do not even attempt to go into the waters".
"Yes, people use juju to fish," said Mtonga. "It is real and sometimes the guy will tell you there are snakes down here. What it means is that in that area another 'juju' man is also fishing within."
Although experts are saying that low fish production is associated with over-fishing, population growth and climate change, Mabvuto said, "I don't know anything about climate change. Let scientist say what they believe in but I am telling you that some witchcraft must be used to get fish here."
The 36-year-old, who dropped out of school in grade six, argued that some fishermen had left the Karonga area and had gone back to Nkhata Bay, another lakeshore district in northern Malawi, because they could not compete against juju.
One fisherman believed to be using juju when fishing is James Banda, a 41-year old father of six. He reluctantly admitted that juju played a part in his fishing career.
"Of course these things happen and we use it for survival. Most people who do not use it find it hard to get fish," he said.
An official from the Department of Fisheries, who did not want to be named, dismissed claims that fisheries production in Lake Malawi and other water bodies had anything to do with juju. He said that climate change is having a big impact on fish production and that this was why the government was encouraging fish farming as a way of improving ouput. An estimated 6,000 farmers countrywide are involved in fish farming and over 50,000 tonnes of fish are produced annually, from a population of 13.1 million people.
Raphael Mweninguwe
