Chronicle EditorTedious Manyepo Herald Reporter
Thirty-five cattle have been killed by landmines, mostly in Mashonaland Central Province this rainy season alone, the Zimbabwe Mine Action Centre (ZMAC) has said.
In an interview yesterday, ZMAC co-ordinator Captain Cainos Tamanikwa said of these, 19 were killed in Mkumbura, 12 in Nyamapanda with four having been lost in Chikombedzi.
Over 250 wild animals have also been killed by the deadly war remnant over the same period, mostly near Gonarezhou National Park.
Captain Tamanikwa said people and livestock are at a higher risk of being killed during the rainy season when landmines are exposed by soil erosion. Most of the cattle were killed early this month when the country received incessant rains which loosened surface soil.
“I can confirm that the country has lost 35 cattle to landmines this rainy season alone. It is quite regrettable since livestock is one of the major sources of wealth for many rural folk,” he said.
ZMAC director Colonel Mkhululi Ncube said it is always important for people who live near minefields to keep their livestock from straying.
“While different organisations are making efforts to remove the landmines, I would also want to urge people to keep away their livestock from straying onto minefields. They should always pay attention to pegs and markings depicting mines,” he said.
Landmines were planted along the country’s border areas by the Ian Smith regime at the peak of the Second Chimurenga. Limited resources have constrained de-mining.
More than 2 000 cattle have been lost due to landmines since 1980.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter