Zimra to engage ZNA over border post landmines

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority  (Zimra) says it will seek the intervention of the Zimbabwe National Army to assess Forbes Border Post for possible landmines to enable authorities to access an area within the border post that has become a dumping area.

The area is littered with piles of rubbish that has been accumulating for years, but has been inaccessible due to the steep slope.

Speaking at the clean-up campaign held at Forbes Border Post on Friday, stakeholders expressed concern at the waste, which is also suspected to be partly responsible for the pollution of Munene River in Mozambique.

Director in the office of Minister of State for Manicaland Mr Kennedy Mugarisanwa said the fact that the rubbish had been allowed to accumulate over an extended period of time meant that there was no waste management plan for the border area.

"This shows that people have become used to seeing this rubbish here that they now believe that it is a dumping area. There is need to urgently access this area so that we do not continue to see this and our visitors do not see such a sight when they arrive," he said.

Zimra regional manager Mr Tichaona Phiri said Zimra and other departments operating at the border post would come up with a sustainable solution to clearing the area. He said the place needed to be cleared of landmines before a team could be deployed down the cliff to work on the area.

"We have a problem area which was identified. But the area is said to be infested with landmines.

"We will seek assistance from the office of the Minister of State to have experts from the army to come and explore the area and clear it of any landmines that might be in that area and give us access so that we can pick up litter and have the area cleaned up," he said.

He said illegal money changers who operate just outside the border area were responsible for the pile-up of rubbish adding that there was need to remove them.

Mr Phiri also said the authority would also explore other measures that can be implemented to ensure the place remains clear once it has been cleaned. He said extending the palisade from the border area up to the centre of "no man's land" between Zimbabwe and Mozambique might be a possible solution. He said Zimra would also come up with a sustainable waste management strategy to ensure the port of entry is presentable to visitors and investors who use Forbes Border Post.

Speaking at the same event, NetOne chief executive Mr Lazarus Muchenje said it was important to have cleanliness at the border.

"Forbes Border Post is one of our country's key trade enablers as it links Zimbabwe to Mozambique and the rest of the world via the Beira Corridor.

"Therefore, it is very important that as we carry out His Excellency's vision of cleaning up Zimbabwe.

"As people come into Zimbabwe, they should be met with cleanliness right at the border," he said "It takes each and every leader in society to play their role.

"It is not only political and corporate leaders that should take part in this, but also church leaders, school leaders, community leaders and family heads," he said.