The
government
has
allocated
US$2
million
this
year
to
speed
up
the
final
stage
of
demining.
Speaking
at
the
2025
Defence
Day
celebrations
on
12
August,
ZNA
Commander
Engineers
Colonel
Simbarashe
Zhou
explained
that
most
of
the
minefields
were
inherited
when
Zimbabwe
gained
independence
in
1980.
He
said:
“In
1980,
we
inherited
landmines
which
were
laid
by
the
Rhodesian
Forces
along
our
borders.“From
the
Victoria
Falls
down
to
Mulibizi,
which
was
220
kilometers.“We
also
had
landmines
stretching
from
Chidodo
in
Mt
Darwin,
up
to
Wenya
River.“We
also
had
minefields
in
Chipinge,
Chiredzi
South,
and
the
Sango
Border
Post.
Those
were
the
areas
that
were
mined.”
Explosives
were
planted
not
only
along
borders
but
also
inland
in
protected
areas
like
Lusulu
and
Kariba
South
Power
Station.
Colonel
Zhou
said
95%
of
the
minefields
have
been
cleared,
with
5%
remaining
in
Mashonaland
Central
and
Mashonaland
East.
ZNA
teams
are
working
with
partners
like
Hallow
Trust
in
Rushinga
and
Norwegian
People’s
Aid
in
Muzarabani.
The
Mine
Advisory
Group
helps
with
demining,
and
the
National
Mine
Clearing
Squadron
is
focused
on
the
Sango
Border
Post.
Despite
progress,
funding
remains
a
challenge.
This
year,
the
government
allocated
US$2
million
for
the
work,
but
it
is
not
enough
to
cover
equipment,
training,
and
transport.
Colonel
Zhou
called
for
more
support
to
buy
modern
equipment
and
improve
operations.
He
urged
communities
to
report
any
unexploded
bombs,
warning
that
curious
children
might
handle
these
dangerous
items.
People
should
notify
the
nearest
police
or
army
station
to
prevent
accidents,
said
Colonel
Zhou.