Zim seeks US$24 million to clear landmines by 2028
Harare – Zimbabwe requires about US$24 million to complete de-mining operations of landmines planted during the 1970s war of liberation, the Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said Tuesday.
“The funding gap as at September 2024 and the completion of mine clearance in Zimbabwe by 2028 was US$23.79 million,” Muchinguri-Kashiri said at a de-mining workshop in Harare.
“It is our hope that deliberations during this workshop will help unlock funding for mine action in Zimbabwe as completion mine clearance is hinged on sustained funding from government and current and new donors.”
“Completion of mine clearance in Zimbabwe will not only help enhance safety and security in affected communities but will go a long way in unlocking sustainable socio-economic development,” she added.
The funding requirements will pay for equipment such as metal detectors, equipment and operation costs such as paying for personnel that remove the landmines.
Key areas that have been cleared of landmines include Sheba Forest to Lincoln Hill, Crocks Corner to Sango Border Post, Rusitu to Muzite Mission and half of Musengezi to Mazowe River minefield.
Almost 12 million square metres of land is still mined in the country.
The Rhodesian colonial regime planted landmines along borders with Mozambique and Zambia to prevent liberation fighters from entering the country to fight for independence in the 1970s.
Several people have been killed by the mines over the years and dozens have been maimed.
A national stakeholders dialogue on humanitarian de-mining and victim assistance is being held in Harare from February 18 to February 20, 2025.
Zimbabwe had until 31 December 2025 to finalize mine clearance operations but the country failed to meet the target. The country has extended the mine clearing programme until 2028.
Zimbabwe National Army engineers squadrons together with Norway and organizations such as Halo Trust, APOPO, MAG among others have been at the forefront of clearing landmines in the country.
Robert Matete, who lost his leg after it was blown off by a landmine appealed to donors to continue funding de-mining operations in the country.
Matete received a prosthetic leg from the Norwegian People’s Aid.
Zimbabwe joined the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction which is known as the AP Mine Ban Convention or Mine Ban Treaty.
By signing the treaty Zimbabwe undertook to destroy all Anti-Personnel Mines in miner areas under it’s durisdiction or control.
The workshop in Harare has been attended by Japanese ambassador to Zimbabwe, Yamanaka Shinichi, UK ambassador, Pete Vowels, EU ambassador, Jobst Von Kirchmann, traditional leaders, government officials, victims of landmines among many other people.
