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Trust Freddy, Herald Correspondent
The Government remains committed to upholding the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of anti-personnel mines, Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has said.
In her keynote address at the 5th Review Conference of the Ottawa Convention, also known as the Siem Reap-Angkor Summit on a Mine-Free World held in Cambodia, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said Zimbabwe has since cleared 96 percent of all wartime landmines.
“Zimbabwe continues to make great strides in mine clearance and is now left with 12 321 860 square metres of the initial contaminated area of 310 650 000 square metres.
“The remaining minefield translates to 4 percent and this demonstrates the country’s unwavering political commitment to the Convention.”
However, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the country’s projection of a mine-free Zimbabwe by 2025 was no longer achievable due to gaps in funding.
“Under victim assistance, Zimbabwe is also making great strides in mainstreaming mine victim assistance by ensuring that landmine survivors are included in social protection nets and economic development programmes.
“This includes access to free education and health care, provision of artificial limbs, food and the free Presidential agricultural farming inputs scheme distribution.”
As Zimbabwe strives to become mine-free, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said there was need for collaborative efforts from various stakeholders.
“As we strive for a mine-free Zimbabwe, we believe in concerted efforts by different stakeholders that include the Government, international partners, civil society organisations and communities.
“Sharing experiences and expertise between and among state parties remains invaluable. Only last week we hosted the African Union delegation that was in Zimbabwe to assess our progress in demining efforts.
“We noted the need to establish a centre of excellence that will become a vehicle for the exchange and sharing of information, and a fund to assist in the mobilisation of funding for mine action in Africa.”
She also commended the donor community and humanitarian demining organisations partnering with Zimbabwe towards the realisation of a mine-free status.
“Allow me to single out Hazardous Area Life-support Organisation Trust, APOPO, Mine Advisory Group and Norwegian People’s Aid for a job well done!
“Going forward, we will continue capacitating the Zimbabwe National Army’s National Mine Clearance Unit which is working alongside the international operators in the country. We pledge to use every opportunity at our disposal in assisting the operators to mobilise for funding.
“Plans are already underway to convene the second National Stakeholders Dialogue on Mine Victim Assistance in 2025.”
Despite the challenges, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the country remains hopeful of achieving a mine-free status.
The 5th Review Conference of the Ottawa Convention on a Mine-Free World started yesterday in Cambodia and will end this Friday.
Online Reporter