Trust Freddy-Herald Correspondent
ZIMBABWE is now just 8.1 square kilometres away from becoming completely landmine-free, having successfully cleared 97 percent of all contaminated ground inherited at independence in 1980.
The major milestone was revealed yesterday in a speech by Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, read on her behalf by Permanent Secretary for Defence Mr Aaron Nhepera, during a fundraising event hosted by British Ambassador Her Excellency Gill Lever at her Harare residence.
Co-hosted by the Zimbabwe Mine Action Centre (ZIMAC), the UK, The HALO Trust, and First Capital Bank, the gathering showcased Zimbabwe’s demining progress and sought to mobilise wider funding for the country’s remaining minefields.
The remaining 8.1 square kilometres—an area equivalent to roughly 1 100 football pitches—is all that stands between the country and full landmine clearance.
Since 1980, demining operators have made safe 302.55 square kilometres along the northern, north-eastern, eastern, and south-eastern borders.
“We are now at the tail end of the mine clearance exercise,” Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said. “Many of you will recall that our initial target was to complete mine clearance by December 2025. Although we missed this target largely due to fluctuations in funding, our mine action programme continues to receive accolades and support from the international community,” she said.
“We now have the date of December 2030 to complete the exercise although we are geared to do so even much earlier, subject of course, to us securing maximum support from all our stakeholders.”
The Minister said Government mainly funds the Zimbabwe National Army National Mine Clearance Unit, while international operators HALO Trust, Mine Advisory Group and Norwegian People’s Aid are funded by the international donor community including the UK, USA and Japan.
She commended HALO Trust and First Capital Bank CEO Tapera Mushoriwa for the initiative, saying it marks the coming on board of the private sector.
“I am however, confident that, with the coming on board of the private sector in Zimbabwe, and the support we continue to receive from the donor community, we will, together, be able to achieve this target,” she said.
The United Kingdom led the funding commitments, with Ambassador Lever announcing an additional US$2 million grant from the British government to support active field operations.
Ambassador Lever said Zimbabwe’s progress reflects the courage and skill of its deminers.
“A mine-free Zimbabwe is within sight. But this is the moment to accelerate, not step back. The UK is proud to provide US$2 million in further support: every mine removed protects lives, returns land to communities, restores livelihoods and creates opportunities, including for women and girls.
“With about eight square kilometres remaining, we encourage government, donor and private-sector partners to support Zimbabwe’s final push towards a mine-free future.”
Japan also pledged its continued financial backing, with Ambassador His Excellency Nobutaka Maekawa highlighting Tokyo’s long-standing bilateral partnership.
Japan has provided US$6,16 million to The HALO Trust since 2013 and recently allocated an additional US$3 million through the UNDP-backed Project RECLAIM to clear minefields and boost agricultural livelihoods in Rushinga and Mudzi districts.
ZIMAC Representative Major Patson Mandaba said:“Landmines have had a significant and detrimental impact in Zimbabwe, particularly in Northern, North-Eastern, Eastern and South-Eastern border areas.
“The presence of landmines poses serious risks to civilians, hindering access to land for agriculture, which is crucial for food security and livelihoods. Efforts to clear landmines have been ongoing, but challenges remain due to funding and the sheer scale of contamination.”
The HALO Trust Country Director Oliver Gerard-Pearse said mine clearance opens land, reconnects communities and creates the conditions in which agriculture, infrastructure, tourism, energy and other businesses can invest.
“Clearance shouldn’t be the end of the story for these communities. It should be the beginning of the next chapter. This is not one organisation’s effort. It is a collective effort between the Government of Zimbabwe, its international partners, mine action operators, foundations, businesses, private donors and, most importantly, the affected communities themselves. We’re close. Really close.”
