His Majesty King Charles III has awarded Zimbabwean deminer Phillimon Gonamombe (60), an Honorary MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), in recognition of exceptional services to safety on the Falkland Islands. See the full list of honours here: https://shorturl.at/RdTP
“This is wonderful news! I am truly honoured and humbled. This recognition means a great deal to me, and I’m deeply grateful” – Phillimon
On receiving news of Phillimon’s award, Ambassador Pete Vowles said:
“This is a remarkable achievement and well-deserved recognition for the bravery, hard work and commitment that has gone into this body of work. An inspiration to us all and a proud moment for him”
Phillimon, from Bikita, Masvingo Province 🇿🇼 has made significant contributions to the removal of landmines and unexploded ordnance in 🇿🇼 and other countries. Most notably for his role in the team that cleared Explosive Remains of War (ERW) on the now mine-free Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic.
The UK-funded programme launched in 2009 with a team of mainly Zimbabweans plus colleagues from SafeLane Global 🇬🇧 and Fenix Insight 🇬🇧 . They worked through difficult terrain, bad weather and hard ground to excavate anti-personnel mines to successfully complete the project three years ahead of schedule.
In 2020 he spoke to UKinZimbabwe:
“I am proud of myself and the team. Also grateful for the invaluable experience gained from the Humanitarian Mine Action Projects. This achievement is thanks in part to a consistent track record of employing best work practices. I consider my work in the Falkland Islands to be my greatest achievement and happy the country has been declared landmine-free”
Formerly with the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Phillimon became a deminer in 1995. Nearly 30 years later, he has worked in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Kosovo, Lebanon, Turkey, and the Falkland Islands.
“I was driven by the urgent need to help communities living in areas contaminated with ERW. Many people face the dangers of landmines every day. My motivation came from a desire to support affected communities by removing the threats that lingered around abandoned water points, schools, health facilities, and farmland”
The removal of the mines in the Falklands means the UK has met its obligations set by the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.
Nigel James Phillips CBE, Governor of the Falkland Islands between 2017 to 2022 said:
“This is a huge achievement for the islands, and we must pay tribute to the brilliant team of deminers who put their lives at risk day-to-day removing and destroying landmines to make the Falklands safe. Our commitment to ridding the world of landmines does not end with our territories”
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Demining is crucial and dangerous work that requires great skill, patience, and dedication. Phillimon’s efforts have helped to:
1. Clear landmines and unexploded ordnance, making areas safer for communities.
2. Support economic development and agriculture by freeing up land for use.
3. Reduce the risk of injuries and deaths from landmines.
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