Zimbabwe appeals for more donor funding to complete landmine clearance

HARARE, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe on Tuesday appealed for more donor funding to complete the clearance of landmines in some parts of the country.

Defense Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri made the call at a dialogue on demining held in Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, which was attended by various Zimbabwean government and defense officials as well as representatives of the international donor community.

"It is our hope that deliberations during this workshop will help unlock funding for mine action in Zimbabwe as completion of mine clearance is hinged on sustained funding from the government and current and new donors," she said. "Completion of mine clearance in Zimbabwe will not only help enhance safety and security in affected communities but also go a long way in unlocking sustainable socio-economic development."

Muchinguri-Kashiri said Zimbabwe has a funding gap of 23.79 million U.S. dollars to clear the remaining 12 square km of land that is still infested with landmines.

According to the Zimbabwean government, landmines have killed and maimed hundreds of people and livestock in the country since it gained independence in 1980. Colonial forces planted the minefields in six provinces during Zimbabwe's armed struggle for independence in the 1970s.

"Since independence, significant progress has been registered toward making Zimbabwe a mine-free zone. To date, all except 12 square kilometers of the mine-infested area has been cleared and handed back to communities for economic exploitation. This represents 4 percent of the total minefields inherited at independence, a phenomenal achievement indeed, notwithstanding erratic and inadequate funding," Muchinguri-Kashiri said.

The minister said the southern African country had targeted to complete demining in all the affected areas by December this year but is expected to miss the target due to challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and funding shortages.

"As a result, we are now working on submitting another three-year extension request to the Secretariat of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty. This will be our sixth request for an extension following our accession to the treaty in 1999," Muchinguri-Kashiri said. ■