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.
MINE BAN POLICY
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.
PRODUCTION, TRANSFER, STOCKPILING AND USE
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]
Joint Operations and Mine Use
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]
LANDMINE PROBLEM AND ASSESSMENT
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]
MINE ACTION FUNDING
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]
MINE ACTION
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.
Status of Minefields
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.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
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]
MINE RISK EDUCATION
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]
LANDMINE CASUALTIES
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]
SURVIVOR ASSISTANCE AND DISABILITY POLICY AND PRACTICE
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]
[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.
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