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(HERALD) 600km need to be de-mined by year-end, says minister

600km need to be de-mined by year-end, says minister
Wednesday, 15 February 2012 00:00
Herald Reporter

ZIMBABWE has about 600 kilometres of land infested with landmines to be cleared by year end, Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa has said. Minister Mnangwagwa said Zimbabwe had cleared over 250km of land since 1998.

He, however, said the programme was adversely affected by lack of adequate resources.
In a speech read on his behalf by Defence Secretary Mr Martin Rushwaya during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Committee of the Red Cross in Harare on Monday, Minister Mnangagwa said the mines initially covered 850 kilometres."

The MoU is aimed at training and re-equipping soldiers involved in Zimbabwe's de-mining activities. Most landmines in Zimbabwe were laid down by the Rhodesian Army at the peak of the liberation struggle along the northern and eastern borders to prevent freedom fighters entering the country from Mozambique and Zambia.

"The minefields initially covered an area of about 1 119 square km, which translates to a linear distance of about 850 km.

"It is estimated that a total of three million anti-personal landmines were laid in six distinct minefields," he said.

Minister Mnangagwa said major clearance began in 1998 with the United States government providing initial material and training assistance to the Zimbabwe National Army Corps of Engineers to clear the Victoria Falls to Mlibizi minefield.

"The support was discontinued after one and half years, leaving Government to complete the bulk of the minefield on its own."

He said 196 887 anti-personal mines have been cleared and destroyed.

Minister Mnangagwa described the pact as a "welcome development" considering the challenges being faced by soldiers de-mining the Sango Border Post area.

He said the soldiers were using antiquated equipment.

"Our Zimbabwe Corps of Engineers are currently engaged in the de-mining of the Sango Border Post to Crooks Corner Minefield and is facing a number of challenges with regard to equipment," he said.

"This has an overall effect of slowing progress and the coming on board of ICRC is good for our de-miners."

He said this year, Zimbabwe wanted to fulfill its obligations under the Ottawa Convention on the ban of Anti-Personnel landmines.

The Convention of 1999 requires Government to clear all the land mines by January 1 next year.

ICRC regional head Mr Pascal Cuttat said the partnership would see Zimbabwe becoming a "free anti-personnel mines country".

"Landmines have a devastating humanitarian impact - killing and maiming families, destroying livestock, impeding access to key resources such as water and hindering development," he said.

Labels: DEMINING, EMMERSON MNANGAGWA

posted by MrK @ 9:16 PM