Over 1 500 killed by land mines

mines that were planted by the Ian Smith regime during the time of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.
The land mines that are planted across the country’s north and eastern borders have directly affected lives of over 800 000 people and resulted in the deaths of 120 000 cattle and other wild animals.
The commander of the Zimbabwe Corps of Engineers, Colonel Mkhululi Ncube, said this when he appeared before the House of Assembly Portfolio Committee of Defence and Home Affairs.
Colonel Ncube also said the sanctions imposed by Western countries at the turn of the century had also hampered their efforts to clear mines in affected areas.
“At the peak of the liberation struggle between 1976 and 1979, the Rhodesian Army laid mines to the north and eastern parts of the country to prevent infiltration by the liberation fighters.
“The mines were laid at approximate distance of 850km with some below the ground but others above the surface,” he said.
Colonel Ncube said their efforts to clear the mines had been further affected by the disappearance of records on the areas that were mined.
He added that the country was losing out on using land that had been rendered unusable by the land mines.
“At least 30 000 hectares of communal land and 10 700 hectares of commercial land have been lost to the land mines.
“Less than five percent of land with mines is not required for immediate commercial use because the land is rugged but the mineral value of the land cannot be ruled out,” he said.
Colonel Ncube said Zimbabwe had signed and ratified the Anti- Personnel Land Mine Ban Convention.
However, its implementation has been derailed by the illegal sanctions.
“The US withdrew their support in 2000 and the EU also withdrew in 2006.
“Since 2006 Zimbabwe has been without any international assistance and has single handedly cleared Sango Border Post and Crooks Corner,” he said.
He said the lack of support had delayed the new surveys of land infested by mines and was causing untold suffering to innocent people who were being killed or maimed.
“Zimbabwe was supposed to have cleared all land mined within its jurisdiction by March 1 2009 but failed.
“We got a 22-month extension to March 1 2011 but nothing much was done and this year we requested another extension and we have received another 22-month extension to March 2013.
“Owing to the politicisation of humanitarian aid, no assistance has been received and no survey has been done. The last survey was done 10 years ago and it was extensive enough,” he said.
Colonel Ncube said the failure by Zimbabwe to access assistance contravened the letter and spirit of the Anti-Personnel Land Mines Ban in which developed nations pledged to provide help to small nations de-mine their countries.
The director of policy, public relations and international affairs, in the Ministry of Defence, Mr Patrick Machaya said Zimbabwe needed at least US$100 million to clear the areas infested by mines.
He urged the corporate sector in Zimbabwe to assist Government in de-mining affected areas.