‘Let’s honour soldiers for demining programme’

ZIMBABWEANS have been urged to respect the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) for de-mining vast tracts of land along the country’s borders.

ZNA has been removing landmines that were planted by the Rhodesian Government to halt the influx of freedom fighters into the country from neighbouring countries such as Mozambique and Zambia during the liberation struggle.

Addressing hundreds of villagers at a Landmines Awareness Gala in Malipati in the Limpopo Valley recently, Brigadier-General Kasirai Tazira said soldiers deserved to be honoured for embarking on the challenging demining exercise.

“About 900 kilometres were covered by landmines along the country’s borders after the Rhodesian Government planted them to stop the influx of freedom fighters from Zambia and Mozambique,” he said.

“This is the kind of knowledge and history, which we must give to our children so that they know that this country was not found on a silver platter. The enemy (Rhodesians) who planted all the landmines said they were going to kill rats.

“This was hatred exhibited by the whites because they didn’t want us to enjoy this freedom.”

Brig-Gen Tazira challenged teachers to give their students correct accounts of events which transpired during the liberation war as it has a bearing on their decisions in the future.

“People like President Mnangagwa were in camps such as Sikombela, which were surrounded by landmines,” he said.

“Here at Gonakudzingwa Restriction Camp many freedom fighters were jailed while surrounded by landmines.”

Brig-Gen Tazira said Government deserved praise for pumping millions of dollars since the year 2000 to remove landmines, most of which were planted around 1976.

Speaking during a tour of minefields being cleared in Davata, near the border with Mozambique, ZNA Commander Engineer Colonel Mkhululi Ncube said they were targeting to clear between 5 to 7 kilometres of minefield in the area this year.

“As of last year we had cleared 27km of the 53km where Rhodesian Forces had planted landmines from Mwenezi River up to Sango Border Post,” he said.

“This year our troops started clearing last month and we are anticipating to clear between 5km to 7km.

The minefield has a primary and secondary mine field and as ZNA we will be working on the primary mine field, which has a width of between 400 to 600 metres.”

Colonel Ncube said the secondary minefield from Mwenezi River to Sango will be cleared by an international de-mining firm.

He said then troops were facing a number of challenges that were slowing down the demining exercise.

In his address, Chief Sengwe paid tribute to ZNA for embarking on the demining programme, which he said will create additional agricultural land for his villagers.

The gala was an all-night musical fête with villagers treated to music by Andy Muridzo, the police and army bands.