Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. Dense belts of landmines were laid by the Rhodesian army along the country’s borders with Mozambique and Zambia during the Liberation War in the 1970s. Over 40 years on from independence, these unfenced minefields have killed or injured over 1,500 people and more than 120,000 cattle. The human cost is huge, but loss of cattle threatens livelihoods too. Children like Wellington from Katiza village have to make a two-hour detour to school every day to avoid crossing the minefield and his mother, Angela, constantly fears for his safety.

HALO’s work clearing landmines in Zimbabwe is focused in the north east of the country, where we employ more than 470 local men and women. From 2013 to 2024, we have destroyed over 210,000 landmines. Staggeringly, that’s nearly four landmines for every person in that part of the country. In some of the densest sections of minefield, there are 5,500 mines per linear kilometre.

The minefields were laid with several types of mine including a particularly sensitive type of minimum-metal South African mine called an R2M2. They are hard to detect and remains very viable almost 50 years after they were laid.

In November 2021, HALO became the first operator to hand over an entire district as landmine-free, when the Government declared Mount Darwin, four hours north of Harare in Mashonaland Central Province, completely free of mines.

In addition to clearing landmines, we work with Cassim’s Prosthetics to support amputees. Many have very old prosthetics, if they are lucky enough to have one at all. We also work with Happy Readers to provide children with mine risk education books and help them understand the dangers.

Miriam and her children live on the opposite side of Katiza village from Wellington, where we have already destroyed the landmines. The family has been able to use the safe land to increase their farming, earning them an extra $200 a year.