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surveying and demining 128 kilometres along the Zimbabwe-Mozambique border for the next three years.

The minefields to be cleared include the 50-km Sheba Forest to Beacon Hill, three kilometres in Burma Valley and the 75-kilometre Rusitu to Mzite Mission minefields.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Permanent Secretary for Defence Mr Martin Rushwaya, who was standing in for Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa said development along the country’s border posts was being hampered by landmines.

He said concerted efforts were needed to clear landmines in the country. “To have a safe sustainable world, we should unite to clear landmines in our countries,” he said.

“As you may all be aware, our Zimbabwean Corps of engineers is currently engaged in the demining of the Sango border post to Crooks Corner minefield and is facing a number of challenges particularly with regard to the use of old and antiquated equipment, which has proved difficult to use.
“This means the engineers need a lot of support as they cannot complete the job on their own.”

Most landmines in Zimbabwe were planted by the Rhodesian Army at the peak of the liberation struggle along the northern and eastern borders.
This was meant to prevent freedom fighters from entering the country from Mozambique and Zambia.
Mr Rushwaya said army operations, including demining, were being affected by the illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the West.

“The sanctions have not spared us also. Government has tried demining programmes since independence but the embargo has seen it (Government ) failing to fulfil some of the set targets. We are fighting hard to meet our obligations under the Ottawa convention,” he said.
Zimbabwe is a signatory of the Ottawa Convention, an international treaty ratfied in 1999. The treaty obliges 156 countries to conclude demining within 10 years and

Zimbabwe was unable to complete clearing the landmines by 2009 and was granted a 22-month extension.
Countries are also required to develop education activities to prevent mine accidents and to support the socio-economic reintergration of landmine victims.

Mr Rushwaya expressed gratitude to NPA for its support in creating a safe Zimbabwe.
“Your partnership is of great value to us as it will go a long way in helping us meet our targets. It is our hope that this relationship will continue,” he said.

NPA’s regional director Mr Thro Oftedal said Norway supported Zimbabwe since the liberation struggle.
“We have over this time been working with both long term development programmes and humanitarian aid. As such we hope to continue assisting Mozambique and Zimbabwe to clear the landmines,” he said.