At the Plant Protection Institute, under the Research Services Division led by Dr. Claid Mujaju, and housed within the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, they are spearheading a pivotal initiative targeting Kariba Weed (Salvinia molesta) and Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)—two of the most aggressive alien aquatic invaders compromising our freshwater ecosystems.

These species are not just ‘weeds’—they are biological pollutants, capable of doubling their biomass in under 10 days, forming thick mats that deplete dissolved oxygen, block sunlight, and cripple aquatic biodiversity.

Left unchecked, they stifle irrigation systems, hinder hydroelectric generation, threaten fish populations, and ultimately reduce agricultural productivity and national food security.

During this Thursday’s Media Familiarization and Learning Tour held at Goromonzi Chinyika Dam and Lake Chivero, Mrs. Hama, Head of the Institute, emphasized:

“Our approach is rooted in ecological intelligence—leveraging biological control agents, such as host-specific weevils and fungal pathogens, which naturally suppress these invaders without compromising native biodiversity.”

This initiative is a manifestation of climate-smart agriculture—a sustainable intervention aligned with principles of integrated weed management (IWM) and adaptive environmental stewardship.

We are proud to be working alongside the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and the Centre for Biological Control, deploying time-tested and ecologically benign methods that harness nature to heal nature.