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Key developments since May 2001: In December 2001, it was announced that Zimbabwe's army had completed demining 1.8 million square meters of land around the main border crossing with Mozambique. In 2002, a National Authority on Mine Action was formed to coordinate activities of mine victims and other landmine-related activities. In 2001, five new landmine casualties were reported. Zimbabwe clarified its position regarding possible joint military operations involving use of antipersonnel mines.
Zimbabwe signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997 and ratified it on 18 June 1998. The treaty entered into force for Zimbabwe on 1 March 1999. Zimbabwe enacted The Anti-Personnel Mines (Prohibition) Act 2000 in January 2001.
Zimbabwe submitted its initial Article 7 report in January 2000 and an update in April 2001.[1] Government officials informed Landmine Monitor that the next annual update was submitted in December 2001, although as of 31 July 2002 it had not been received by the United Nations.[2]
Zimbabwe attended the Third Meeting of States Parties in September 2001 in Managua, Nicaragua and also actively participated in the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in January and May 2002. Zimbabwe cosponsored and voted in favor of UNGA Resolution 56/24M on 29 November 2001, calling for universalization and implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. A senior official said the Zimbabwe Ministry of Defense and Foreign Affairs both continue to encourage countries that have not signed, ratified, and promulgated the Mine Ban Treaty into domestic law to do so.[3]
Zimbabwe is not a party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW). It did not attend the third annual meeting of States Parties to Amended Protocol II or the Second Review Conference of the CCW, both of which were held in Geneva in December 2001.
Zimbabwe no longer produces landmines, and as reported in Landmine Monitor Report 2001, destroyed its stockpile of 4,092 antipersonnel mines in November 2000, retaining 700 mines for training purposes.[4] In 2000 and 2001, Zimbabwe did not expend any of the mines retained for training.[5]
Zimbabwe states that it stopped using antipersonnel mines upon ratification of the Mine Ban Treaty in 1998.[6] Past allegations of the use of landmines by the Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been consistently and strongly denied by the ZDF and the Ministry of Defense.[7] Landmine Monitor is not aware of any serious allegations of use of antipersonnel mines by Zimbabwean forces in this reporting period.[8]
In its 2001 report, Landmine Monitor expressed concern that a Mine Ban Treaty State Party could be in violation of the treaty by virtue of participating in a joint military operation with another nation that uses antipersonnel mines in that operation. Under Article 1 of the Mine Ban Treaty, a State Party may not “under any circumstances...assist, encourage or induce, in any way, anyone to engage in any activity that is prohibited to a State Party under this Convention.” The ICBL raised this concern with respect to Zimbabwe’s military activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (which at that time was not a party to the treaty), as well as Tajikistan’s activities with Russia, and various NATO members’ activities with the United States.
At the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in Geneva in May 2002, the Zimbabwe delegation responded to the concern, noting it would “only dwell on three terms that we feel tend to create some confusion in some quarters in as far as Zimbabwe is concerned. These are joint operations, assist and active participation.”[9]
The delegate went on to state, “Zimbabwe’s understanding of the term joint operations in the context of the Mine Ban Treaty and especially in situations where the other ally or allies are not States Parties to the Convention, is that troops from different countries always operate under command of their own commanders. In Zimbabwe’s case, our troops are always under command of Zimbabwean commanders and have separate spheres and areas of operations. Our troops therefore remain bound by our domestic laws even if they are operating beyond our borders. Our troops will therefore not in any way be directly or otherwise be involved in any activity banned by the Convention wherever they are operating. We therefore in our view, believe that the term assist should be interpreted, relating directly to the activity in question and should not be applied liberally or given too wide a definition. This may lead to confusion, accusations and counter-accusations.”[10]
Finally, the delegate said, “Active participation in Zimbabwe’s context is when reference is made to a prohibited activity and includes providing finances to such activities with full knowledge that such finance is to be used to procure, manufacture, training in the use of, and or distribution of APMs. Active participation also means actively participating in the carrying, laying and training in the use, manufacture, distribution, encouraging or inducing someone in the use of APMs. It is therefore our humble submission that the terms assist and active participation in the context of Article 1 mean knowingly and intentionally participating directly or rendering assistance on the use, transfer and/or production of AP mines. Zimbabwe would therefore like to urge all States Parties and other players to be careful about the interpretation and application of these and other terms in the Convention to avoid misunderstandings.”[11]
Zimbabwe has in the past identified seven mined areas that it estimates contain about 1.17 million antipersonnel mines.[12] As of January 2002, 27 percent had been cleared.[13]
In April 2001, Zimbabwe reported that MineTech, a commercial company funded by GTZ, was carrying out a Level 2 Survey of the Malvernia (Sango) to Crooks Corner Minefield (50 kilometers).[14] MineTech also undertook Level 1 and Level 2 Surveys of the sector five border minefield for the potential Trans-Frontier Conservation Project.[15] A total of 41,271.6 square meters of land was surveyed. Forty-seven antipersonnel mines were located during this operation, along with 293 Ploughshear directional fragmentation mines. The Level 2 Survey indicated that the mine threat in this area was far greater than had been initially thought and a concept plan for the clearance of the threat areas indicated as a result of the Level 2 Survey has been developed by MineTech.[16]
No Level 2 surveys have been conducted in other parts of the country because of financial constraints.[17]
Zimbabwe has received funding for mine action in 2001 only from the U.S., in the amount of $621,000 to fully equip a fourth demining platoon.[18] The U.S. has allocated $300,000 for mine action in Zimbabwe in U.S. fiscal year 2002.[19]
In its report last year, Landmine Monitor reported the end of the European Union grant to demine the 359-mile long Mukumbura-Nyamapanda minefield, effective December 2000.[20] The UN Mine Action Database indicates a contribution from the European Union for 2001, in the amount of $4,085,533.[21] This, however, was apparently money in the pipeline for the Mukumbura-Nyamapanda minefield grant that concluded at the end of 2000, as well as other previous grants.[22]
In 1998, the National Demining Office (NDO) was established at Pomona Barracks to coordinate and integrate all demining activities in Zimbabwe. The establishment of the NDO followed several visits by U.S. demining officials to Zimbabwe.[23] These visits included training of Zimbabwe Engineering personnel in staffing a humanitarian demining office, as well as computer training for all NDO staff.[24] Training in staff management and organizational structure was completed in 2001, and since December 2001, the officers have been collecting information on mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and mine victims.[25]
A National Authority on Mine Action (NAMA), which incorporates interested individuals as well as the National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped (NASCOH), was formed in early 2002.[26] The NAMA aims to coordinate the activities of landmine victims and other landmine-related activities. Air-Commodore M.T. Karakadzai, Deputy Secretary of Policy and Procurement in the Ministry of Defense, was appointed Chairman of NAMA. The establishment of this Authority allows the NDO to concentrate on its core business of coordinating demining activities.[27]
Besides the Zimbabwe Defense Force Engineering Squadron, there are a number of other Zimbabwe-based mine clearance operators. These include, the Southern African Demining Services Agency, Southern African Demining Operators, MineTech International and Mine-Clearance International. In 2002, MineTech International has teams operating in Lebanon, Macedonia, Eritrea, and Somaliland. None of these organizations are presently under contract in Zimbabwe itself.
Victoria Falls-Mlibizi: The ZDF's Engineering Squadron continues to demine the Victoria Falls-Mlibizi minefield. In total, 105 kilometers have been cleared, including the 18-kilometer stretch around the town of Victoria Falls. About 25 kilometers were cleared since the previous Landmine Monitor report, and a total of 138 kilometers remains to be cleared. The Victoria Falls-Mlibizi project is expected to be completed in 2003. During the demining process in 2000, Lance-Corporal N. Mangena detonated an antipersonnel mine, resulting in his leg being amputated. This is the only causality suffered by the NDO since its establishment.[28]
Forbes Border Post (in the Stapleford-Leako Hill minefield): In December 2001, it was announced that Zimbabwe's army had completed demining 1.8 million square meters of land around the main border crossing with Mozambique.[29] The director of operations of NDO stated that the "team also checked for mines as far as 100 meters across the border into Mozambique."[30] The National Railway of Zimbabwe had requested ZDF assistance to clear the area to enable the servicing of the railway line by its maintenance team.[31]
The Forbes Border Post is part of the economically and strategically important Beira Corridor from Harare to the port of Beira in Mozambique. The corridor is the traditional route for Zimbabwe's export and imports.[32] It is presently being upgraded and expanded to cover areas within 50 kilometers on either side of the gateway. According to Lieutenant-Colonel Mkhululi Ncube, the exercise, which took seven months, resulted in the removal of 478 antipersonnel mines.[33] About 27 percent of the area has been cleared.[34] The clearing of the state land will eventually pave way for the expansion of the border post for the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, the rehabilitation of the Mutare-Beira Railway and increased police patrols along the border.
Mkumbura Rwenya Minefield (in the Mzengezi-Nyamapanda minefield): Koch-Mine Safe, a joint venture company between Koch Munitionsbergungs of Germany and Mine Safe, a company run by retired Zimbabwe army officers, started working in the Mkumbura Rwenya Minefield in 1998. When it ended operations in December 2000 with the termination of EU funding, it had cleared some 6.2 million square meters of land or about 130 kilometer of the 335-kilometer long minefield[35] and about 162,000 mines.[36] Since, then the NDO has intensified its mine risk education campaigns in the area. Officially, the demined area in Mukumbura has not been handed over to the local population because approximately 22 kilometers remain uncleared.[37]
Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park: The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park covers an area of over 35,000 square kilometers, extending into South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. Some consider it the most significant and ambitious conservation project worldwide. The park will be officially opened in 2003.[38] Part of the 50-kilometer-long Sango Border Post-Crooks Corner minefield runs through the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Another section of the minefield lies in the sparsely populated areas of Chilethela, Magamgeni, and Malipati villages. The area has been accorded priority number two by Zimbabwe and should, depending on the availability of funding, be the next objective for mine action by the NDO after Victoria Falls.
The Malvernia (Sango) Border Post to Crooks Corner Minefield: The south-eastern part of Zimbabwe on the border with Mozambique and South Africa is inhabited by the Dumisa community, which is living in former “protected villages.”[39] The land is a state-owned game reserve meant to generate income through tourism. An adjacent 50-kilometer minefield has not been cleared since independence. Villagers have removed the protective fences, iron poles, and minefield warning signs to construct animal pens and small vegetable gardens. This has left the local community and wildlife exposed to mine danger. Almost every family among the Dumisa has lost a domestic animal and most know or are related to a landmine victim.[40] Although the Dumisa community was promised that the landmines would be cleared, lack of financial resources has made this impossible. Resettlement programs have not been carried out either.
In Zimbabwe, the private company, Security Devices, has been contracted by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to design and test new mine action equipment.[41] In addition, investigations into the possible breeding and training of indigenous dogs for mine detection are due to be carried out under a SADC/EU initiative.[42]
Security Devices of Zimbabwe has been making equipment for humanitarian demining for a number of years and is now designing and manufacturing new types of protective aprons and visors. Preliminary tests on the effectiveness of their visors and aprons were carried out at the NDO in April 2001. In June 2001, secondary tests were carried out in Chimoi, Mozambique. Continued research on the effectiveness of the visor is being carried out in Pretoria, South Africa because of a lack of capacity in Zimbabwe.[43]
The National Demining Office has a Mine Risk Education Section to carry out mine risk education (MRE) campaigns throughout the country. Activities are conducted in coordination with the Zimbabwe Republic Police and local authorities.[44] Areas targeted for MRE are mostly those that are adjacent to mined areas, and information is also collected on UXO and mines in the area during this process. Some minefields are well marked, but in other areas, minefield markings have either deteriorated or been stolen by villagers. Villagers must then rely on local knowledge.[45]
The MRE Section has launched MRE campaigns at national and provincial shows, health delivery centers, and business centers since 1998, with a variety of materials. Schools have also been targeted, including 16 primary and five secondary schools in the Victoria Falls Minefield; 14 primary schools, four secondary schools and nine villages in the Mukumbura area; and in the Rushinga area, 13 primary schools and five secondary schools have been reached.[46] As a result of people resettling into new areas, the army has had to intensify its mine risk education campaigns.[47]
According to officials from the U.S. Embassy who attended an MRE campaign activity in Mukumbura in November 2001, “The landmine awareness team carries out its work professionally and has managed to transcend the hesitancy normally characterizing the civilian-military barrier.”[48] The team works with the civilian population through the local headmen, chiefs, heads of schools and other community leaders, which has greatly facilitated dissemination of MRE information to the targeted populations. In urban areas, campaigns have been conducted at agricultural shows in all provinces and at the International Trade Fair, which is held annually in Bulawayo.
According to U.S. officials, mine risk education in Zimbabwe compares well with that carried out in Bosnia, Kosovo, and elsewhere in the world.[49] However, the success and effectiveness of MRE is difficult to evaluate because of the different literacy levels and comprehension of the communities and the fact that no follow-up tests are carried out.[50]
In 2001, five new landmine casualties were reported, of which two were killed and three injured, including three men and one woman. The sex of one of the persons killed is unknown.[51] In 2000, there were four reported landmine casualties.[52] The most recent reported casualty occurred on 25 March 2002 when one male was injured in a landmine incident.[53]
The Zimbabwe government covers the initial cost of treating landmine victims; however, it was evident from field research that there is little follow-up assistance available to survivors.[54] A lack of government funds does not allow for a comprehensive survivor assistance program in Zimbabwe and there is no single organization providing for landmine survivors. Assistance for persons with disabilities, including landmine survivors, is channeled through the Social Dimension Fund of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.[55] Disabled persons receive Z$250 (about US$5) per month for children and Z$500 (about US$10) per month for adults.[56] A proposal by SADC/EU to set up a database of Zimbabwe landmine casualties and survivors by age, sex and location is pending. The database will help to place disabled people in self-help projects such as piggeries, poultry farms, and market gardening. Collective community projects will also be encouraged.[57]
The 1992 “Disabled Persons Act” makes provision for the welfare and rehabilitation of disabled persons and established the National Disability Board.[58]
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[1] Article 7 Report, 11 January 2000, covering the period August 1999 to January 2000; Article 7 Report, 4 April 2001, covering the period January 2000 to December 2000.
[2] Landmine Monitor has received from Zimbabwe a copy of the latest report. Article 7 Report, covering the period January 2001 to December 2001, dated December 2001 (no day).
[3] Interview with Colonel J. Munongwa, National Coordinator and Director of Operations, National Demining Office, Harare, Zimbabwe, 23 January 2002.
[4] For details on stocks and retained mines, see Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p. 177; Article 7 Report, 4 April 2001. For information on past production, see Landmine Monitor Report 1999, pp. 97-99.
[5] Article 7 Reports, 4 April 2001 and December 2001. The latter states, “The mines will be used during training of our troops and deminers to enable them to identify the mines found in our minefields, learn how to detect, handle, neutralize and destroy them.”
[6] Statement of the Zimbabwe Delegation to the Second Meeting of State Parties, Geneva, 13 September 2000.
[7] For information on allegations of use, see Landmine Monitor Report 2001, pp. 177-179.
[8] Since 1999, there have been allegations of use of landmines by Zimbabwean forces in Ikela. In 2002, local people from Ikela continued to state that Zimbabwean troops laid mines when they learned that RCD-Goma and Rwandan troops were surrounding them. Interviews with local people, landmine victims and their families, and medical staff, Ikela, February and March 2002. Also, interview with an RCD-Goma officer, March 2002, who declared 92 RCD-Goma soldiers had been victims of landmines in Ikela between 1999 and 2002.
[9] “Zimbabwe's Intervention on the Standing Committee on the General Status and Operations of the Convention: Article 1,” Intersessional Standing Committee Meetings, Geneva, May 2002. This written statement is undated, but was delivered on 31 May 2002.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Ibid. Emphasis in original.
[12] For details of each mined area, the initial and estimated present density as well as the minefield type, see Article 7 Report, Form C, submitted December 2001.
[13] Presentation on National Demining Operations by Major Vengesai, 17 January 2002.
[14] Landmine Monitor 2001, p. 180.
[15] See http://www.minetech.co.uk/Africa.html.
[16] E-mail from Jody Maine, Minetech International, 12 July 2002.
[17] National Demining Office, "Report on the Area Covered by the Mine Awareness Section, 1998 – 2001."
[18] U.S. Department of State, “To Walk the Earth in Safety: The United States Commitment to Humanitarian Demining,” November 2001, p. 15.
[19] U.S. Department of State, Fact Sheet, “The U.S. Humanitarian Demining Program and NADR Funding,” 5 April 2002.
[20] Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p. 180.
[21] See: http://webapps.dfait-maeci.gc.ca.
[22] The EC indicates €2 million was for the Zimbabwe-Mozambique clearance project, and about €2.5 million for disbursements from previous years. Email from Catherine Horeftari, 29 July 2002. Also, interview with Colonel J. Munongwa, National Coordinator and Director of Operations, NDO, Harare, Zimbabwe, 23 January 2002.
[23] Interview with Colonel J. Munongwa, National Coordinator and Director of Operations, NDO, Harare, Zimbabwe, 23 January 2002.
[24] Ibid.
[25] Interview with Chief Warrant Officer T. Castle, Operations Coordinator, and Captain T. Cook, Foreign Area Officer, U.S. Embassy, Harare, 5 February 2002.
[26] National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped (NASCOH) is made up of 53 member organizations covering all types of disabilities and undertakes programs and projects with and on behalf of its membership.
[27] Interview with Colonel J. Munongwa, National Coordinator and Director of Operations, NDO, Harare, Zimbabwe, 23 January 2002.
[28] Ibid.
[29] “Zim De-mines Border,” The Citizen, Johannesburg, 13 December 2001; “Zimbabwe Army Completes Demining at Mozambique Border Post,” AFP, Harare, Zimbabwe, 12 December 2001.
[30] Interview with Colonel J. Munongwa, NDO, Harare, 23 January 2002.
[31] Lieutenant Colonel Mkhululi Ncube, "Demining Completed," The Herald, 13 December 2001, p. 14.
[32] Charles Mtetwa, “Joint Venture to see Beira Corridor development,” Business Herald, 15 October 2001, p. 6.
[33] Lieutenant Colonel Mkhululi Ncube, “Demining Completed,” The Herald, 13 December 2001, p. 14.
[34] “Zimbabwe Army Completes Demining at Mozambique Border Post,” AFP, Harare, Zimbabwe, 12 December 2001, quoting Lt. Col. Mkhululi Ncube.
[35] Interview, with Colonel J. Munongwa, NDO, Harare, 23 January 2002.
[36] Presentation on National Demining Operations by Major Vengesai, 17 January 2002.
[37] Ibid.
[38] “Trans-frontier Park to officially open in 2003,” The Herald, 6 October 2001, p. 6.
[39] Protected villages were restriction camps set up by the Rhodesian government to prevent the interaction of freedom fighters and the villagers during the war. The Dumisa were driven from their original areas into the protected villages in 1976.
[40] Interview with Dr. Gunguwo, Medical Superintendent, Chikombedzi District Hospital, 12 April 2001.
[41] Interview with Major Nhidza (Retd), Director, Southern African Demining Operations, Harare, 5 February 2002.
[42] Interviews with Colonel J. Munongwa, NDO, 23 January 2002.
[43] Interview with Major Nhidza (Retd), Southern African Demining Operations, Harare, 5 February 2002.
[44] Interview with Colonel J. Munongwa, NDO, Harare, 23 January 2002.
[45] Ibid., 14 July 2002.
[46] National Demining Office, "Report on the Area Covered by the Mine Awareness Section, 1998 – 2001."
[47] Interview with Colonel J. Munongwa, NDO, Harare, 14 July 2002.
[48] Interview with Chief Warrant Officer T. Castle, Operations Coordinator, and Captain T. Cook, Foreign Area Officer, U.S. Embassy, Harare, 5 February 2002.
[49] Ibid.
[50] Interview with Michael Laban, former deminer with MineTech, 1 February 2002.
[51] Fax communication from Engineers Directorate, Army Headquarters, 8 July 2002.
[52] Landmine Monitor Report 2001, pp. 181-182.
[53] Fax communication from Engineers Directorate, Army Headquarters, 8 July 2002.
[54] Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p. 182.
[55] Interview with Mr Mukuta, Director, National Association of Societies for the Care of the
Handicapped (NASCOH), Harare, 1 February 2002.
[56] Ibid.
[57] Interview with Colonel J. Munongwa, National Demining Office, Harare, 23 January 2002.
[58] “Disabled Persons Act” 1992; see also Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p. 182.
