The Tonga Women’s Club of Tonga Village in Mpulungu District has commended the Lake Tanganyika Development Project for introducing alternative livelihood initiatives that are helping reduce dependence on fishing.

Naomi Banda, a beneficiary of the goat-rearing initiative, said the project has enabled her to sustain her family financially.

She explained that although she initially received only one goat, she now has 35, some of which she sold to support her three children’s education.

Ms. Banda also praised the project for constructing a road network in the area, which has made movement easier.

She noted that in the past, residents had to access Mpulungu’s Central Business District by crossing Lake Tanganyika because the road was impassable.

“This project has really transformed our livelihoods, not just individually but as a community. All my three-secondary school-going children have been supported using money from the goats,” she said.

Tonga Women’s Club Chairperson Evans Sichalwe said that when the club was established in 2021, its 60 members, divided into four clusters, received 30 goats.

He added that once the goats multiplied, each member received a goat, which has since reproduced and helped support families.

Mr Sichalwe, who now has 40 goats, explained that members received training in goat management before receiving the animals.

“This initiative is a pass-on project that has worked very well because every member now has personal goats,” he said.

And Lake Tanganyika Development Project Coordinator Dora Kamweneshe noted that such initiatives reduce pressure on the lake by providing alternative income sources.

She said most people in Mpulungu previously relied solely on fishing, which contributed to declining fish stocks and environmental degradation.

“The project saw the need to introduce other sources of livelihoods such as goat and chicken rearing and fish caging. This is working well,” Ms. Kamweneshe said.