KEY POINTS
- Zimbabwe postpones landmine clearance deadline to 2028 due to funding gaps.
- Over 1,500 people and 120,000 livestock have been affected since 1980.
- Government urges donors to support the $23.79 million demining effort.
Zimbabwe’s efforts to clear landmines left over from the 1970s liberation war have hit a major roadblock due to a lack of funding and past disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Originally, the government aimed to make Zimbabwe landmine-free by December 2025, but financial constraints and inconsistent donor support have forced authorities to push the deadline to 2028.
Speaking at a national dialogue on demining efforts Tuesday, Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri revealed that funding delays have slowed progress.
According to New Zimbabwe, the government now plans to request a three-year extension to complete the demining operations.
“The funding gap as of September 2024 stands at $23.79 million,” Muchinguri said.
“While we remain committed to demining efforts, external financial support remains critical to achieving our goals.”
The landmines, planted by Rhodesian colonial forces during the independence war, were designed to prevent freedom fighters from crossing into Zimbabwe from Zambia and Mozambique.
Decades later, these explosives continue to threaten lives, livestock, and economic development in several provinces.
Government and donors struggle to meet financial demands
The Zimbabwean government has pledged to continue funding its National Mine Clearance Unit, but Muchinguri emphasized that more financial backing is needed.
“The government will keep allocating at least $2 million annually to the demining project,” she said.
“However, completion depends on sustained funding from both the government and international donors.”
The humanitarian impact of these landmines has been devastating.
Since 1980, more than 1,500 people have been killed or injured, while over 120,000 livestock have died due to mine explosions.
Demining efforts are concentrated across six provinces—Matabeleland North, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Manicaland, and Masvingo—where landmines cover an estimated 310,650 square kilometers.
Progress has been made yet the exposed communities still face risk.
Reports of landmine accidents are still frequent, with tragic incidents such as the recent explosion in Binga that killed three people underscoring the urgency of completing demining operations.
Clearing landmines is key to safety and development
Officials explain that minefield clearance represents both vital economic development and security enhancement needs.
“Clearing these minefields will enhance security for affected communities and unlock sustainable socio-economic development,” Muchinguri said.
The people living in mine-affected communities face serious limitations in accessing their land for farming, infrastructure development and daily transport, which blocks economic growth.
The removal of landmines will permit safer agricultural frontier development and the improvement of transportation systems that will ultimately drive rural development.
As Zimbabwe seeks a new deadline until 2028, the government anticipates international support will bridge the financial shortfall.
The successful outcome of this project represents an absolute necessity to protect national security and ensure the safety of the thousands of people residing in dangerous territories.
