Zimbabwe nears landmine-free status as clearance efforts reach final phase

Online Reporter
Only 12 square kilometres of land in Zimbabwe remain contaminated with landmines, down from about 310 000 square kilometres, spanning six provinces, at independence, marking significant progress in clearing unexploded ordnances left by Rhodesian colonial forces, Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has said.
Speaking at the National Stakeholder Dialogue on Humanitarian Demining and Mine Victim Assistance in Harare on Tuesday, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri described the clearance progress as a “phenomenal achievement” given financial constraints affecting the programme.

The landmines were planted during the 1970s liberation war by Rhodesian colonial forces to restrict the movement of freedom fighters, affecting six provinces — Matabeleland North, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Manicaland and Masvingo.
“Since independence, significant progress has been registered towards making Zimbabwe a mine-free zone,” she said.
“To date, all except 12 square kilometres of the mine-infested area has been cleared and handed back to communities for economic exploitation.
“This represents 4 percent of the total minefield inherited at independence, a phenomenal achievement indeed, notwithstanding erratic and inadequate funding.”