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Freeman Razemba

Senior Reporter

Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri met the European Union Ambassador Jobst von Kirchmann this morning to discuss various ways of clearing the outstanding five percent of landmines that are still planted along the country’s borders.

This development comes after British Ambassador to Zimbabwe Pete Vowles yesterday announced an additional US$5,5 million funding for landmine clearance in Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central Provinces.

This funding aims to support the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and The HALO Trust in their ongoing efforts to clear landmines and educate communities about the dangers posed by the explosives.

During today’s meeting, Ambassador Jobst von Kirchmann commended the Government for its efforts which have seen it achieve a 95,5 percent clearance of the landmines.

“Let us not forget that landmines are a horrible weapon because they always hit the innocent, they hit children, people just walking,” he said.

“So it is an absolutely cruel weapon. The effort that Zimbabwe has made to clear that area is remarkable. Last year Honourable Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri set a target for 2025 and that will be a great achievement.
“Today we discussed what the EU could do to support that. We will work very closely together over the next couple of weeks to see what kind of activity we could support.”

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said: “Our meeting was very critical. It was our first meeting after the conference that they assisted us in holding last year, which addressed how best we can meet our 2025 target of clearing the outstanding five percent of landmines in the border areas.

“And you know, we have lost lives, we have also lost assets for these people and their livelihoods as a result of the landmines.

“We wanted to give each other feedback on the progress that we have made so far.”