News / National
5 ZNA staffers die in de-mining activity
19 Apr 2012 at 04:36hrs | Views
FIVE Zimbabwe National Army mine clearers have sustained serious injuries in the last six years while de-mining the Gonarezhou Transfrontier Park.
Speaking on the sidelines of de-mining operations under way in Gonarezhou on Monday, Officer Commanding Gwaivhi National Mine Clearance Squadron Major Innocent Taguta said the de-mining operation was dangerous and needed brave and dedicated men.
"Since 2006 when we started de-mining this area which borders Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique, we suffered five serious casualties which range from facial, hand and leg injuries," said Major Taguta.
"Some of the de-miners have been amputated.
"The injured are, however, well taken care of by the army as they are rehabilitated at Tsanga Lodge in Nyanga where they are also given new life skills such as carpentry, welding or even pursue degrees under the sponsorship of the army.
"This minefield in unmarked and that makes our task very difficult. We first have to establish the minefield pattern and that is the most dangerous part."
Major Taguta said lack of de-mining equipment and weather effects were slowing the speedy removal of landmines in the area.
"My squadron has only 30 landmine detectors instead of 48. So far we have cleared 21 kilometres of this 54 kilometre double-stretch minefield," he said.
"We have cleared from the basins of Limpopo to Mwenezi rivers.
"On a good day, we can remove 100 or more landmines.
"Some landmines were planted as early as 1976 and since then a lot of things have happened, making the minefield pattern change.
"Animals have also destroyed the pattern.
"We are discovering anti-personnel, surface to surface and anti-tank landmines which were reinforced together.
"We are also discovering skeletons of armed liberation fighters and animals in the minefield and we have since forwarded the information to the local chief for proper reburial."
Major Taguta said after an injury of one de-miner, they immediately stop operations to evacuate the injured by air to Harare.
They return to the field after two days.
Chief Willie Sengwe said Government and local companies must fully capacitate the de-miners for the nation to benefit from cultural tourism of the Shangani people.
"Army de-miners are doing a great job here, but they do not have enough equipment, they always take turns to go into the minefield, yet when there is sufficient equipment all the 100 and more engineers will go into the field at once, meaning they cover a bigger area," he said.
"Shangani people have a rich culture which remains to be adored by the nation and the world.
"We boast of our variety of dances, housing structures, traditional beer, and initiation of boys and girls into adulthood."
Speaking on the sidelines of de-mining operations under way in Gonarezhou on Monday, Officer Commanding Gwaivhi National Mine Clearance Squadron Major Innocent Taguta said the de-mining operation was dangerous and needed brave and dedicated men.
"Since 2006 when we started de-mining this area which borders Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique, we suffered five serious casualties which range from facial, hand and leg injuries," said Major Taguta.
"Some of the de-miners have been amputated.
"The injured are, however, well taken care of by the army as they are rehabilitated at Tsanga Lodge in Nyanga where they are also given new life skills such as carpentry, welding or even pursue degrees under the sponsorship of the army.
"This minefield in unmarked and that makes our task very difficult. We first have to establish the minefield pattern and that is the most dangerous part."
Major Taguta said lack of de-mining equipment and weather effects were slowing the speedy removal of landmines in the area.
"My squadron has only 30 landmine detectors instead of 48. So far we have cleared 21 kilometres of this 54 kilometre double-stretch minefield," he said.
"We have cleared from the basins of Limpopo to Mwenezi rivers.
"On a good day, we can remove 100 or more landmines.
"Some landmines were planted as early as 1976 and since then a lot of things have happened, making the minefield pattern change.
"Animals have also destroyed the pattern.
"We are discovering anti-personnel, surface to surface and anti-tank landmines which were reinforced together.
"We are also discovering skeletons of armed liberation fighters and animals in the minefield and we have since forwarded the information to the local chief for proper reburial."
Major Taguta said after an injury of one de-miner, they immediately stop operations to evacuate the injured by air to Harare.
They return to the field after two days.
Chief Willie Sengwe said Government and local companies must fully capacitate the de-miners for the nation to benefit from cultural tourism of the Shangani people.
"Army de-miners are doing a great job here, but they do not have enough equipment, they always take turns to go into the minefield, yet when there is sufficient equipment all the 100 and more engineers will go into the field at once, meaning they cover a bigger area," he said.
"Shangani people have a rich culture which remains to be adored by the nation and the world.
"We boast of our variety of dances, housing structures, traditional beer, and initiation of boys and girls into adulthood."
Source - TH
