adminWhinsley Masara Chronicle Reporter
THE Zimbabwe National Army Bomb Disposal Unit has defused rockets and grenades that were discovered at two homesteads in Lupane District over the weekend. The army was engaged after villagers discovered the arms of war in their fields and they were deactivated on Monday and Tuesday. Lupane District was an assembly point for Zipra combatants when ceasefire was declared and it is common for villagers to stumble upon arms in their fields.
The Officer Commanding One Engineers Squadron at Headquarters 1 Brigade, Major Trust Chinhongo, said three M962 grenades and two RPG7 rockets were discovered on Saturday and Sunday.
He said a lot of people and animals have been injured after coming into contact with some of the arms.
Major Chinhongo said they have held awareness campaigns in newly resettled areas and at schools for people to be able to recognise some of the dangerous objects.
“We usually give advice to the community, especially to children to report immediately without tampering with any of the objects they suspect to be arms of war to the nearest police station who then alert the bomb disposal team to come and destroy the war remnants,” he said.
“In schools we’ve given out pamphlets with pictures of those arms so that they become aware. We went to those in Lupane, Binga and some in Filabusi.”
The officer commanding police in Lupane District, Chief Superintendent Johannes Govo, urged people not to tamper with arms of war that they come across as that may result in the loss of life.
“Every year we receive a number of reports on discoveries of these war materials and we highly advise the community not to tamper with these war items but to rush and report to the police as lives can be lost,” he said.
“Barely a week ago, a police officer also came across a dangerous weapon. Thorough unearthing is required in this part of our country.”
Jabula Sibanda, 55, of Ndawana Village under Chief Mabhikwa stumbled on three M962 grenades near St Paul’s Hospital on Saturday.
He immediately reported the matter to the police who engaged the army.
Petros Ngwenya, 52, of Guga 2 Village under Chief Manyeza, also discovered two RPG7 rockets on Sunday as he worked in his fields. He told The Chronicle that it is not the first time that he has come across arms of war in his fields.
“Two years ago, I unearthed grenades and this time I got even more shocked on finding these scary pieces. Our home area is not at all safe, many lives have been lost. Such materials are a danger especially to animals and children who always want to experiment. We’re glad the police always make a quick response to such incidents,” said Ngwenya.
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