Key developments since May 2005: In 2005, the Zambia Mine Action Centre was restructured, which limited its operations. A three-year strategy was developed with the goal of clearing mines and unexploded ordnance from 41 dangerous areas by 2007. Lack of progress led to revision of the program targets and, in May 2006, Zambia drafted the Mine Action Completion Plan, which aimed to meet its 2011 Article 5 deadline. In March 2006, Zambia announced free healthcare for people living in rural areas, including mine survivors, abolishing fees introduced in the early 1990s.
The Republic of Zambia signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 12 December 1997, ratified on 23 February 2001, and became a State Party on 1 August 2001. Zambia enacted comprehensive domestic implementation legislation on 12 December 2003, which includes penal sanctions.[1] The legislation also formalized the establishment of the Zambia Anti-Personnel Mine Action Centre (ZMAC) under the National Committee on Anti-Personnel Landmines.[2]
Zambia submitted its fourth Article 7 transparency report in March 2006, which covers calendar year 2005.[3]
Zambia attended the Sixth Meeting of States Parties in Zagreb, Croatia in November-December 2005, where it stated it had incorporated mine clearance strategies into its fifth national development plan for 2006-2010.[4]
Zambia participated in the June 2005 and May 2006 intersessional Standing Committee meetings; at the May 2006 meeting, Zambia made a statement on its progress towards clearing all mined areas by the treaty-mandated deadline.
Zambia has not engaged in the extensive discussions that States Parties have had on matters of interpretation and implementation related to Articles 1, 2 and 3, although its national implementation legislation directly covers many of these issues. The legislation is explicit about a prohibition on antivehicle mines with sensitive fuzes or antihandling devices which function as antipersonnel mines. It states that “transfer” includes “the transit of anti-personnel mines into, out of, or through Zambia by any means,” and says that members of the Armed Forces can participate in operations or other military activities with the armed forces of a State not party to the Convention, “Provided that the operation, exercise or military activity is not in contravention of the Convention and that such participation does not amount to active assistance in any activity prohibited by the Convention and this Act.”[5]
Zambia has not produced or exported antipersonnel mines. Mines were apparently last used in Zambia by Angolan government and UNITA forces in 1999 and 2000.
Zambia completed destruction of a stockpile of 3,345 antipersonnel mines in October 2004. Zambia has declared 3,346 antipersonnel mines retained for training.[6] The former acting director of ZMAC explained that Zambia decided to retain 3,346 mines because it was a number below “tens of thousands.”[7]
A ZMAC officer told Landmine Monitor that Zambia did not conduct any training with the retained mines in 2005 due to the administrative restructuring of ZMAC and a lack of financial resources.[8] Zambia’s March 2006 Article 7 report states, “No training has taken place so far though training of deminers is scheduled to take place during the first half of 2006.”[9] According to a ZMAC officer, “The 3,346 retained mines will be used up by 2010 as Zambia has a program to complete demining all known and surveyed areas well before the 2011 deadline mandated by the Mine Ban Treaty.”[10] The former acting director of ZMAC also said the retained mines would be depleted once Zambia was declared mine-free.[11]
Zambia has yet to provide details on the intended purposes and actual uses of its retained mines. In its Article 7 report for 2005, Zambia did not utilize the new expanded Form D on retained mines agreed to by States Parties at the Sixth Meeting of States Parties in November-December 2005.
The Article 7 report indicates that Zambia destroyed an arms cache containing 40mm rockets, small calibre ammunition, magazine pans and hand grenades in October 2005; there is no mention of landmines.[12]
Zambia has a problem with antipersonnel and antivehicle landmines and with explosive remnants of war (ERW) as a result of armed opposition groups from neighboring countries having used Zambia as a safe haven. Mines were laid by armed groups around their camps and at crossing points on borders. Abandoned explosive ordnance was left in caches by the different warring factions and unexploded ordnance (UXO) can be found on former battlefields.[13] Six out of the nine provinces are believed to be affected.[14] A UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) inter-agency assessment mission in 2000 concluded that the greatest threat to civilians in Zambia came from ERW, followed by antivehicle mines, which have rendered many rural roads unusable; antipersonnel mines were mostly used in sparsely populated border areas.[15]
A nationwide survey undertaken by the ZMAC in 2003-2004 concluded that 41 locations required detailed follow-up assessment and clearance.[16] The survey identified the main affected areas as located in Lusaka Province (Luangwa, Chongwe and Chikumbi), Western Province (Mangongo, Sijembela and Lyangati), Central Province (Mkushi, Serenje and Mboroma), Eastern Province (Nyimba, Katete and Petauke) and Southern Province (Siavonga, Kalomo, Siamaponda and Chipepo).[17] Of these 41 locations, seven have since been cleared of mines and/or ERW.[18] However, ZMAC states that the real extent of Zambia’s contamination remains to be verified, as the 2003-2004 survey was “very general and therefore not very accurate.”[19] In 2004, ZMAC field officers identified three new mine-affected areas in Hibamenda, Mapatizya and Jimbe.[20] In March 2006, ZMAC claimed that mostly UXO remained in that region, particularly in Hibamenda and Mapatizya.[21]
The presence of antivehicle mines, used to curtail the movements of rebels in the former Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) continues to pose a threat.[22] In its Article 7 report for 2005, Zambia reported five areas contaminated with antivehicle mines. One is in Southern Province (around the town of Siavonga) and three are in Western Province (in Mulamba-Sijembela, Sioma Ngwezi National Park and Nangweshi/Mashika village in Shangombo District). The fifth area is in Mweshangombe Chongwe in Lusaka Province.[23] The exact number and locations of antivehicle mines remain to be confirmed.[24]
Zambia claims that mines and UXO have had a greater impact on national development than on local communities, as most of the affected areas are not densely populated. Tourism and agriculture, the two key pillars of Zambia’s national development plan, are both affected by mines and UXO, as they deny access to wildlife and game reserves and hamper the creation of a cattle disease cordon line.[25]
National Mine Action Authority: The National Committee on Anti-Personnel Landmines (NCAL) is responsible for the implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty’s provisions and for overseeing mine action policy. NCAL replaced the National Task Force on Landmines when parliament passed the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines Act 2003 on 11 December 2003.[26] NCAL is composed of deputy ministers from relevant ministries. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs acts as the chair of NCAL while the Deputy Minister of Defence acts as the vice chair.[27]
NCAL last met in December 2005, to be introduced to the new director of ZMAC, to receive an update on operations and to consider the proposed 2006 workplan. It is supposed to meet quarterly. However, as of April 2006, NCAL had not met, since many of the deputy ministers were unavailable due to upcoming parliamentary elections. The next meeting was planned for June 2006.[28]
Mine Action Center: The Zambia Anti-Personnel Mines Action Centre, created in 2001, is a department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is in charge of both the coordination and implementation of mine action operations in Zambia, under the supervision of NCAL. During 2005, ZMAC was largely inactive, as it underwent a restructuring process which resulted in the opening of five permanent positions, which are to be supported by officers from several ministries who had previously received training from the US demining company RONCO Consulting Corporation. As of May 2006, these positions remained to be filled with only the director in post.[29] According to ZMAC, the restructuring resulted from several staff members retiring, being made redundant or leaving because of changes in the civil service.[30]
Between 2001 and January 2005, the United States provided training and equipment to ZMAC and contracted RONCO to build Zambian military mine clearance capacity. At the end of the contract, all humanitarian demining equipment was handed over to ZMAC.[31]
In 2001-2002, ZMAC developed standing operating procedures (SOPs) in accordance with international standards during the training of ZMAC staff by RONCO. All mine action activities are to be carried out in accordance with these SOPs.[32]
The Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) database (version 2) was installed with the assistance of RONCO in 2000.[33] However, the database contains errors and does not include results of the 2003-2004 survey because of the lack of training of ZMAC staff and also because the survey data did not include geographical coordinates essential for IMSMA data entry. The database is therefore not useful in its current state.[34] Training of IMSMA officers is considered to be “vital.”[35] The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) conducted an assessment mission in April 2006 to identify the staff to be trained. Zambia was due to receive the latest version of IMSMA (version 4) by April 2007.[36]
In 2005, Zambia drafted a three-year Humanitarian Demining Program (2005-2007), which had four objectives: to clear the 41 identified areas of mine/UXO contamination by the end of 2007; to implement an information campaign and limited marking operations, and to update IMSMA with information from field surveys; to expand the existing mine risk education program; and to implement a prosthetic limb replacement program for Zambian mine survivors who have no prostheses or rudimentary or ill-fitting prostheses.[37] At the Sixth Meeting of States Parties in November-December 2005, Zambia stated that it remained determined to complete clearing all mined areas by 2007. However, prerequisites for this were a nationwide general survey and adequate international funding.[38]
Given the lack of activities in 2005 and following a UN Development Programme (UNDP) assessment mission in November 2005, Zambia’s demining program was modified. In May 2006, ZMAC announced that the country had drafted a Mine Action Completion Plan, as part of the UNDP Completion Initiative.[39] Five objectives are included:
Most of the implementation is to take place between 2006 and 2009, divided into three phases: assessing the mine problem (by conducting a national survey, establishing a database and revising clearance plans); clearance, victim assistance, monitoring and mine risk education; and integration of mine action into normal government functions. The 41 known areas previously surveyed are also to be revisited.[40] Pending the survey results, the first priority for clearance would be the border area with Angola in Western Province, where the Ministry of Agriculture intends to erect an 800 kilometer-long cattle disease cordon; clearance of this area was expected to take four months. ZMAC also hoped to renew contacts with Angola, Mozambique and Namibia regarding clearance of mines on their borders, as “regional collaboration is critical if progress is to be made.”[41]
The draft Completion Plan claims that after the assessment is completed, all mined areas can be cleared in no more than three years. It adds that after 2009, the residual capacity put in place will bring the country into full compliance with Article 5 of the treaty. The plan is costed at US$4,822,500 over five years.[42] UNDP said that it would assist Zambia in refining the plan during 2006.[43]
In 2005, during the Sixth Meeting of States Parties, the Zambian delegation announced that the government had incorporated mine clearance strategies into its new five-year (2006-2010) national development plan; the plan was officially adopted on 3 February 2006, earmarking $1.2 million for mine action strategies.[44] The objective is to ensure that humanitarian demining accords with development needs.[45]
Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty, Zambia must destroy all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but no later than 1 August 2011. At the Sixth Meeting of States Parties in November-December 2005, Zambia stated that it was committed to clearing all identified areas by 2007, given sufficient international support.[46] Zambia’s Completion Plan of May 2006 envisaged the completion of most clearance operations by 2009 and the creation of a residual capacity before the deadline.[36] At the Standing Committee meetings in May 2006, Zambia stated that achieving the Article 5 deadline was dependent on additional donor support. The Completion Plan is estimated as costing less than $5 million; Zambia requested $3 million to be contributed by international donors.[47]
Zambia’s former Humanitarian Demining Program stated that the low level of contamination and the speed with which Zambian resources cleared the Gwembe-Tonga road in 2002 indicates that Zambia could clear all mines and UXO in a relatively short period of time.[48]
The Engineering Division of the Zambian Army is the only body that undertakes clearance. It has received training in humanitarian demining from RONCO and is available for clearance when called upon by ZMAC. Thirty-one deminers and four medics can be deployed in five teams; only manual methods are used. ZMAC can also mobilize a quality assurance team, composed of six officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Police Service; the team also carries out explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) tasks.[49]
No surveys were conducted in 2005; UNDP conducted an assessment in November 2005. Subject to availability of funding, ZMAC’s priority for 2006 was to conduct a detailed nationwide impact survey to give a more accurate picture of the location and extent of landmine and ERW contamination. The survey is also intended to identify mine survivors in need of assistance.[50]
According to Zambia’s Article 7 report for 2005, two suspected mined areas have been marked awaiting clearance: Mweshang’ombe in Sable Game Park (Lusaka Province) and Lukulusitu (Western Province).[51] As of May 2006, mine/ERW-affected areas in Zambia had not been fenced.[52]
No mine clearance was undertaken in 2005. Four in situ destruction exercises were conducted by the EOD team in response to reports from local communities in affected areas. Between August and October 2005, 35 High Explosive Anti-Tank rockets were destroyed in Hibamenda, Siavonga district, one antivehicle mine in Mapatizya, Kalomo district, one rocket-propelled grenade in Jimbe, Mwinilunga district, and an undisclosed quantity of UXO in Mwambashi, Chongwe district, near Lusaka. [53]
ZMAC is the main provider of mine risk education (MRE) in Zambia; the MRE educators were previously trained by RONCO.[54] However, in 2005 as in previous years, MRE was not a major component of mine action in Zambia; no MRE activities are reported on Form I of the Article 7 report for 2005.
ZMAC informed Landmine Monitor that in the fourth quarter of 2005 it resumed MRE activities for voluntarily repatriating Angolan refugees in Mayukwayukwa Refugee Camp in western Zambia.[55] In October 2005, it visited Mayukwayukwa and other refugee camps in Nangweshi and Maheba to decide how ZMAC could revive active participation at the centers. It found a need to identify and train new key communicators as most of those trained previously had repatriated; fresh training materials were also needed.[56] ZMAC uses posters of antipersonnel mines, demonstrations of perimeter fencing and billboards showing danger signs to raise awareness. They also tell people, especially children, what to do when they see a suspicious object.[57]
ZMAC conducted emergency MRE following a UXO incident in 2005 near the Mozambican border.[58]
In 2006, ZMAC planned to extend MRE to include Zambian communities in contaminated border areas, notably along the cattle cordon line on the border with Angola, in Katima Mulilo on the border with Namibia, and in Shangombo and Kalabo in western Zambia. These activities, to be completed by 30 November 2006, were allocated a budget of ZMK11,074,024 ($3,356).[59] ZMAC and Lutheran World Federation also planned to carry out emergency MRE at Mongu airport for Angolan refugees.[60]
In 2005, the government allocated ZMAC approximately ZMK350 million (about $80,000) from the national budget.[61] In contrast, in 2004 Zambia allocated $700,000 for ZMAC activities.[62] The 2006 budget was approved in April but the amount requested by the center was cut by almost two-thirds, to approximately ZMK100 million (about $30,000),[63] including administrative costs. ZMAC reported that since “the money is disbursed monthly, it makes it difficult to carry out any meaningful clearance or any other mine action related work.”[64] According to a document distributed at the Standing Committee meetings in June 2005, ZMAC has treasury authority to spend ZMK200 million (about $60,000) each year from the national budget.[65] In November 2004, ZMAC announced that it would establish a trust fund for humanitarian demining.[66] As of March 2006, this trust fund had yet to be established.[67]
ZMAC reported that it had received no funding for its submissions to the 2005 UN Portfolio of Mine Action Projects.[68] The Czech Republic reported contributing CZK2 million ($83,366) to the UN for mine clearance and mine risk education in both Angola and Zambia in 2005.[69]
In May 2006, Zambia stated that, “the government has in the last three years spent approximately US$250,000 in terms of human resources and funds in an effort to fulfill its treaty obligations.” This is acknowledged to be “a small amount compared to how much is actually required to conduct clearance and other related mine action activities.” It noted that the Article 5 clearance deadline will not be achieved without donor assistance.[70] Similarly, at the Sixth Meeting of States Parties, Zambia’s representative said that clearing all mined areas in accordance with Article 5 “cannot be achieved by the Zambian Government alone.”[71]
In 2005, three new mine/UXO casualties were reported (two adults killed and one child injured) in one incident when a “metal object”—reportedly a mortar—discovered in Mozambique and stored in Zambia exploded.[72] In comparison, in 2004, two boys were injured by an antipersonnel mine.[73]
In 2006, as of March, no landmine incidents had been reported. According to ZMAC, no mine/UXO incidents were recorded involving Angolan and Congolese refugees in the western and northwestern provinces in 2005 and the first months of 2006.[74]
The total number of casualties in Zambia is not known, although ZMAC estimates there are 500 mine/UXO casualties since 1972. It is possible that a small number of landmine incidents on the western and northwestern border remain unreported. [75] According to ZMAC, a database on landmine casualties was programmed to start in May 2006.[76]
At the Sixth Meeting of State Parties in November-December 2005, Zambia acknowledged the need to assist landmine survivors. It reported that it intended to use the survey of contaminated areas to assist in identifying landmine survivors who require socioeconomic assistance and reintegration, and intended to establish a database to monitor survivor assistance programs.[77] ZMAC has indicated that it lacks the capacity to carry out survivor assistance activities, as well as being inactive for most of 2005 due to restructuring.[78] Zambia’s Article 7 report for 2005 did not include voluntary Form J to provide information on survivor assistance.
The needs of landmine survivors, and other persons with disabilities, are addressed within the existing public healthcare infrastructure; however, reportedly there is a lack of resources and expertise. It is estimated that most health services are located in urban areas; access in rural areas is significantly lower as only 50 percent of the population is within five kilometers of healthcare facilities.[79] The Ministry of Health is developing a five-year strategy (2006-2010) to increase the number of healthcare workers and ensure retention of medical staff through higher payments and benefits.[80] A budget increase for the health sector from 12 to 19 percent was also approved.[81] In March 2006, Zambia announced free healthcare for people living in rural areas, abolishing the fees introduced in the early 1990s in connection with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.[82]
ZMAC introduced a victim assistance program in the 2006 budget, including the establishment of a landmine casualty database.[83] UNICEF proposed to develop both capacity within ZMAC and a program to ensure the rehabilitation and socioeconomic reintegration of mine/UXO survivors and their families in six mine-affected provinces.[84]
Zambia supports large numbers of refugees from Angola, including an estimated 800 with lower limb amputations. The International Committee of the Red Cross continued its support to the Physiotherapy Department at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, to address the needs of disabled Angolan refugees and Zambians; in 2005, the department assisted over 250 people at the Center for Physical Rehabilitation, Occupational Therapy. The center also fitted prostheses for 150 Angolan and over one hundred Zambian disabled people, including landmine survivors.[85]
In May 2005, POWER International, in collaboration with the Zambian Federation for the Disabled initiated a project to provide wheelchairs and a micro-finance project.[86] Services for people with disabilities, including landmine survivors, are also available from the Cheshire Homes, Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare and Ministry of Health. The Zambia Federation for the Disabled represents national NGOs active in the field of disability and rehabilitation.[87]
The Persons with Disabilities Act 1996 provides support for the disabled in the areas of employment and education, and established the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities.[88] However, people with disabilities reportedly faced discrimination in employment and education.[89] Two organizations of disabled people are advocating for improved access to health facilities and employment of specialized medical personnel.[90]
[1] Act No. 16 of 2003, short-title: “Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines Act, 2003,” date of assent 11 December 2003, enacted by the Parliament of Zambia on 12 December 2003. Penal sanctions include a fine “not exceeding two hundred thousand penalty units” or imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years, or both. Part III, 9 (2). The act “became effective” in August 2004. Article 7 Report, Form A, 30 March 2005.
[2] UNMAS, “Assessment Mission Report, 29 May-7 June 2000,” pp. 8-9.
[3] Article 7 Report, dated 30 March 2006 (the report had not been posted on the UN website as of 30 June 2006). Previous Article 7 reports were submitted on 30 March 2005 (for calendar year 2004), 9 February 2004 (for calendar year 2003) and 31 August 2001 (for 1 April-31 August 2001). This leaves September 2001-December 2002 unreported.
[4] Statement by Sheila Mweemba, Director, Zambia Anti-Personnel Mine Action Centre (ZMAC), Sixth Meeting of States Parties, Zagreb, 29 November 2005.
[5] “Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines Act, 2003,” Part I, 2 and Part III, 17, (1). See Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 875.
[6] Article 7 Report, Forms B and D, report dated 30 March 2006. The retained mines include: 267 ALPER 120 (China); 286 AUPS 24 (Italy); 110 POMZ-2 (Russia); 338 MAUS (Russia); 430 T69 (China); 613 T59 (Russia/Iraq); 902 T58 (China); 113 T VARS 40 (Italy); and 287 VARS 50 (Italy). The same information was contained in Article 7 Report, 30 March 2005.
[7] Interview with Matomola Singongi, former Acting Director of ZMAC, Lusaka, 14 November 2005. In discussions on the Article 3 exception, States Parties have often said that the number of mines retained should be in the hundreds or thousands, and not tens of thousands. However, Zambia has never had “tens of thousands” of antipersonnel mines. Zambia initially declared it would retain its entire stockpile of 6,691 antipersonnel mines, but in 2004 decided to destroy half. See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 629.
[8] Interview with Maj. Joachim Mwenda, Demining Operations Officer, ZMAC, Lusaka, 7 December 2005. The Director of ZMAC also stated that, “no training exercise was performed during 2005;” email from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 2 March 2006.
[9] Article 7 Report, Form B, report dated 30 March 2006.
[10] Interview with Maj. Joachim Mwenda, ZMAC, Lusaka, 7 December 2005.
[11] Interview with Matomola Singongi, Lusaka, 14 November 2005. Similar statements were made previously; see Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 629.
[12] Article 7 Report, Form F, report dated 30 March 2006.
[13] UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), “Mine Action Assessment Report, 29 May-7 June 2000,” pp. 8-9, www.mineaction.org, accessed 21 April 2006.
[14] ZMAC, “Humanitarian Demining Program in Zambia 2005-2007,” (undated; pages not numbered).
[15] UNMAS, “Assessment Mission Report, 29 May-7 June 2000,” pp. 8-9.
[16] ZMAC, “General Survey Report 2003-2004,” Lusaka. ZMAC reports that the survey was an impact survey, but that it was not carried out according to humanitarian standards. Email from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 10 March, and interview, Geneva, 8 May 2006.
[17] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 630.
[18] These are: Shampondo, Siamwinga, Kakaro-Kavalamanja, Mwapula, Mwambashi, Victory Camp (Lusaka West), and Jimbe. Email from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 2 March 2006.
[19] Email from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 2 March 2006.
[20] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 630.
[21] Emails from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 2 March and 19 April 2006.
[22] “Situational Report on Zambia’s Implementation of the Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention to the Sessions of the Standing Committees,” Geneva, 13-17 June 2005, www.gichd.ch, accessed 11 April 2006; email from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 2 March 2006.
[23] Article 7 Report, Form C, report dated 30 March 2006.
[24] Email from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 2 March 2006.
[25] ZMAC, “Humanitarian Demining Program in Zambia 2005-2007.”
[26] Ibid.
[27] Email from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 2 March 2006, and interview, Geneva, 8 May 2006.
[28] Email from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 20 April, telephone interview, 21 April and interview, Geneva, 8 May 2006.
[29] Email from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 2 March and 19 April 2006.
[30] Email from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 10 March 2006.
[31] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 630; Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 876.
[32] Email from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 20 April 2006.
[33] Emails from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 2 and 10 March 2006; email from Jean-Paul Rychener, Regional IMSMA Coordinator, GICHD, 15 May 2006.
[34] Email from Jean-Paul Rychener, GICHD, 15 May 2006.
[35] Emails from Sheila Mweemba, Director, ZMAC, 2 and 10 March 2006.
[36] Interview with Jean-Paul Rychener, GICHD, 11 May 2006.
[37] ZMAC, “Humanitarian Demining Program in Zambia 2005-2007.” This was based on, “Preparing for the First Review Conference, Communicating elements of plans to implement Article 5,” drafted by Zambia for the First Review Conference in November-December 2004.
[38] Statement by Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, Sixth Meeting of States Parties, Zagreb, 29 November 2005.
[39] The Completion Initiative seeks to accelerate mine action in countries where a concerted effort and relatively modest investment will significantly reduce the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war. ZMAC, “Mine Action Completion Plan 2006-2009,” May 2006, p. 4.
[40] Interview with Maj. Joachim Mwenda, ZMAC, Lusaka, 7 December 2005.
[41] Emails from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 2 and 10 March 2006.
[42] ZMAC, “Mine Action Completion Plan 2006-2009,” May 2006, p. 4.
[43] Email from Jacqueline Seck, Programme Specialist, UNDP, 9 June 2006.
[44] Statement by Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, Sixth Meeting of States Parties, Zagreb, 29 November 2005; Government of Zambia Document, “Ministry of Finance and National Planning,” Lusaka, 3 February 2006.
[45] “Zambia Mine Action at work,” Times of Zambia, 9 November 2005; Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 633.
[46] Statement by Zambia, Sixth Meeting of States Parties, Zagreb, 2 December 2006.
[36] ZMAC, “Mine Action Completion Plan 2006-2009,” May 2006, p. 4.
[47] Statement by Zambia, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 10 May 2006.
[48] ZMAC, “Humanitarian Demining Program 2005-2007.”
[49] Email from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 2 March 2006.
[50] Ibid.
[51] Article 7 Report, Form I, report dated 30 March 2006.
[52] Interview with Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, Geneva, 8 May 2006.
[53] ZMAC, “Report to the Interministerial Committee on Landmines,” Lusaka, 7 December 2005.
[54] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 630.
[55] Email from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 2 March 2006.
[56] Statement by Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, Lusaka, 7 December 2005, and email, 22 May 2006.
[57] Interview with Maj. Joachim Mwenda, ZMAC, 7 December 2005.
[58] Interview with Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, Geneva, 10 May 2006.
[59] ZMAC, “Departmental Workplan, 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2006;” email from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 2 March 2006; Government of Zambia Document: Zambia National Annual Activity Based Budget, 3 February 2006.
[60] Statement by Maj. Joachim Mwenda, ZMAC, Lusaka, 7 December 2005.
[61] Statement by Zambia, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 10 May 2006; interview with Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, Geneva, 11 May 2006. Average exchange rate for 2005: US$1 = ZMK4457.37852. Landmine Monitor estimate based on www.oanda.com.
[62] For national funding in previous years, see Landmine Monitor Report 2004, pp. 878-879.
[63] Average exchange rate for first quarter 2006: US$1 = ZMK3394.86342, Landmine Monitor estimate based on information from www.oanda.com.
[64] Email from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 20 April 2006, and telephone interview, 21 April 2006.
[65] “Situational Report on Zambia’s Implementation of the Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention to the Sessions of the Standing Committees,” distributed at Standing Committee meetings, Geneva, 13-17 June 2005, p. 5. Average exchange rate for first quarter 2006: US$1 = ZMK3394.86342.
[66] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 631.
[67] Email from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 2 March 2006.
[68] UN Mine Action Service, “2005 Portfolio End-Year Review,” www.mineaction.org, accessed 20 May 2006.
[69] Email from Jan Kara, Director, UN Department, Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 22 April 2006. Average exchange rate for 2005: US$1 = CZK23.99048. Landmine Monitor estimate based on www.oanda.com.
[70] Statement by Zambia, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 10 May 2006.
[71] Statement by Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, Sixth Meeting of States Parties, Zagreb, 29 November 2005.
[72] ZMAC, “Report on Landmine/UXO accident in Nyimba, Eastern Province,” 28 December 2005.
[73] See Landmine Monitor 2005, p. 632.
[74] Email from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 22 April 2006.
[75] UNMAS, “Zambia,” www.mineaction.org, accessed 23 February 2006; Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 632.
[76] Email from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 22 April 2006.
[77] Statement by Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, Sixth Meeting of States Parties, Zagreb, 29 November 2005.
[78] Email from Sheila Mweemba, ZMAC, 2 March 2006.
[79] World Health Organization, “Health in Action Crises, Zambia,” September 2005.
[80] International Monetary Fund, “Zambia: Selected Issues and Statistical Appendix,” Country Report No. 06/118, March 2006, www.imf.org, accessed 21 April 2006.
[81] “Govt cautious about spending debt savings”, IRIN (Lusaka), 21 March 2006.
[82] OXFAM, “Zambia uses G8 debt cancellation to make health care free for the poor,” Press Release, 31 March 2006.
[83] Government of Zambia, “Zambia National 2006 Annual Activity-Based Budget,” Lusaka, 3 February 2006.
[84] UNMAS, “Zambia,” www.mineaction.org, accessed 2 May 2006.
[85] Records from the University Teaching Hospital, Physiotherapy Department, 2004-2005, Lusaka.
[86] POWER International, “Summer 2005 POWER talk,” www.powerinternational.org, accessed 20 March 2006.
[87] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 633.
[88] Ibid.
[89] US Department of State, “Country Report on Human Right Practices-2005: Zambia,” Washington DC, 8 March 2006.
[90] “Disabled cry for better access to health institutions,” Zambia News Agency (Lusaka), 15 April 2006.