Story by Peter Chivhima
The Second Republic has been commended for implementing strategies meant to ensure a land mine-free nation by 2025.
This came out as the three-day National Stakeholder Dialogue on Demining ended in Harare this Thursday, with key players commending Zimbabwe for the strides made in assisting victims of land mines while also pledging their support for a mine-free nation by 2025.
“The dialogue will continue and as EU will continue to support this dialogue and I am proud that we will fund for the first time a national stakeholder dialogue on victim assistance. The ISU will support the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and ZIMAC in hosting. I would like to commend the government for this initiative,” said the European Union ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Jobst von Kirchmann.
Victims of land mines are equally grateful to the government for its support and awareness programmes.
“We want to thank the government for the awareness program as well the efforts it is making in removing land mines across the country. We understand that we have borders such as Mozambique where people travel to and from so they are prone to these dangerous mine fields. But our government is doing enough to remove this,” one lady survivor said.
The Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Cde Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri expressed gratitude for the support from development partners and called for more assistance to cushion the victims.
“Let me acknowledge the continued support of the European Union Council Decision and the implementing partners. The government of Zimbabwe continues to value your support in the journey towards attaining a mine-free country by 2025,” she said.
The National Mine Action Completion Strategy 2018-2025 is aimed at ensuring a nation free of explosive weapons where citizens feel safe to conduct their daily business.
