corporate world urged to assist in demining

border areas that are still infested with landmines, a senior army officer has said.
The landmines were planted by the Smith-regime in a bid to prevent freedom fighters from entering Zimbabwe from countries such as Mozambique and Zambia.
Colonel Mkhululi Bhika Ncube urged the corporate world to assist the army in its effort to rid the country’s borders of landmines, which have claimed many lives and livestock.
Many people have been maimed.
Col Ncube was speaking during a brief hand over ceremony of the Zimbabwe National Army’s Corps of Engineers in Harare last week.
Col Ncube takes over from Col Christopher Sibanda who has taken up another appointment.
Col Ncube said donor funding had dried up following the imposition of illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe by the West.
“The Government has been doing it (de-mining) alone since the imposition of sanctions in 2000. I therefore call upon the corporate world to come on board and support the army’s efforts in the de-mining exercise,” he said.
The new commander said despite the sanctions that have been negatively affecting the country, they will not give up.
“The sanctions have been bedeviling the country which has negatively affected the organisation at large and Engineers Corps has not been spared either.
“Regardless of all the challenges we will soldier on, we do not have any excuses for failures,” Col Ncube said.
He commended President Mugabe, who is the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, for his efforts in supporting and appreciating the achievements by army engineers on de-mining.
“President Robert Mugabe has always proudly appreciated the achievements by engineers on de-mining. What else would we want if His Excellency could leave his busy schedule and time to visit the engineers on de-mining in the remote areas such as Mlibizi in Binga. Surely this should give us the vigour and inspire us to shine,” he said.