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Fungai Lupande Mashonaland Central Bureau
Zimbabwe is making great strides towards the clearing of landmines planted by the Smith regime during the liberation struggle despite illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the West which stalled the de-mining progress, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Speaking during the handover of 6 612 242 square metres, a linear distance of 50 kilometres of landmine cleared land in Ganganyama area in Rushinga district yesterday, Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said although the country missed the 10-year Ottawa Convention deadline, great strides were being made towards achieving a landmine free Zimbabwe by 2025.

This brings to the land that has been cleared of landmines by a de-mining non-governmental organisation (NGO) called Hazardous Area Life Support Organisation (HALO Trust) in Mashonaland Central to 8 220 843 square meters.

“After entering the Ottawa Convention on the prohibition of anti-personnel landmines in March 1999, Zimbabwe was obliged to clear all land mined area in her territory within 10 years,” said Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri.

“De-mining is a slow, but capital intensive process. The task seemed achievable because the American Government and the EU came to assist with the partial clearance of Victoria Falls to Mlibizi and the Musengezi to Rwenya River minefields between 1998 to 2000.

“However, in 2000 this support was withdrawn following political disagreement, especially on the land reform programme.

“The withdrawal of the support left Government with no option, but to do it alone, at a much slower pace.
“When we reached the 10-year deadline in March 2009, the country had only managed to complete the Vic Falls to Mlibizi minefields, which our military deminers completed in 2006.

“The turning point came in 2012 when Government signed a memoranda of understanding with two internal NGOs, namely HALO Trust and Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA).”

Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said in 2017 the Ministry handed over cleared land on the minefield with a linear distance of 29 kilometres at Foya village and Kapfudza Primary School.

“HALO Trust was assigned the Musengezi to Rwenya River minefields believed to be 141,68 square kilometres and agriculture activities are taking place in that area,” she said.

“They prioritised Foya and Kapfudza Primary School because there were homesteads and a school within a 100-metre radius of the minefield.

“HALO Trust employees has steadily grown from 70 to 409 de-miners and the company has also increased their output to an average 7 000 square meters per day. On behalf of the Government, I express my sincere appreciation to the support rendered by our cooperating partners in the de-mining sector.”