NEW: US$1m for landmines clearing

SWITZERLAND has provided US$1 million for the clearing of land mines in Sengwe Wildlife corridor and areas surrounding the Gonarezhou National Park for the next two years, in a project set to save human lives and livestock.

The project, being implemented the through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), will see APOPO Mine clearing over 1 630 000 square meters of land in the great Limpopo Transfrontier that combines Limpopo Park in Mozambique, Kruger Park in South Africa and Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe.

The new project is a continuation of the phase implemented in 2020, which saw 1 093 152 square meters being de-mined in the same area.

In a statement, Ambassador of Switzerland to Zimbabwe, Mr Niculin Jäger said the de-mining exercise will help communities access agricultural land, which was idle because of landmines.

“The Government of Switzerland is proud to support APOPO’s demining activities in the Sengwe Wildlife Corridor as this will help the local community regain their economic footing through accessing previously contaminated land for agricultural production – something that they have not been able to do for the past 40 years.

“The process will also support greater opportunities for transnational tourism between Zimbabwe, Mozambique; and South Africa,” he said.

SDC regional director, Mr Manuel Thurnhofer, said he was hopeful the project would reduce human wild-conflicts.

“Switzerland is working with Zimbabwe to build a brighter, productive and safer future.

“We are very hopeful that the project is going to reduce the ever-increasing number of human-wildlife conflicts in southern Zimbabwe and increase job opportunities,” he said.

APOPO Mine Action regional manager for Africa, Mr Tesfazghi Tewelde, said the exercise would increase food security and livelihoods for the communities.

“APOPO appreciates the Government of Switzerland’s continued commitment to our vital humanitarian work in Zimbabwe, and for its ongoing support to improve food security and livelihoods of these vulnerable communities in southern Zimbabwe.

“The support will maintain mine action as a critical enabler for the safe return of land to both humans and wildlife, and above all will save many lives,” he added.

The Sengwe wildlife corridor is a critical passageway for the migration of elephants as well as endangered wildlife such as wild dogs in the region.

The presence of landmines has been causing accidents and preventing animals from migrating out of Gonarezhou, leading to overpopulation leading to human-wildlife conflict.

The project will complement Zimbabwe’s efforts of becoming a landmine free zone by 2025.