Vanhu Vatatu Vofa Mushure meKuputikirwa neChimbambaira kuBingaMunacho Gwamanda-Three (3), people, including a 14-year-old girl, were killed in a deadly landmine explosion in Binga’s Sebungwe Narrows, under Chief Siachilaba, earlier this week.
The fatal incident occurred when a Binga Rural District Council vehicle carrying six passengers drove over a landmine, triggering the deadly blastThe teenager died instantly, while two men succumbed to their injuries en route to Binga Rural District Hospital.
Following the tragedy, the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) dispatched a de-mining team to sweep the area for additional landmines, raising questions about the safety of communities in regions long plagued by landmine contamination.
Zimbabwe is among the most landmine-contaminated countries globally, a grim reminder of its liberation war era.
Vast stretches of land, particularly in border regions like Binga in Matabeleland North and Mount Darwin in Mashonaland Central, remain riddled with unexploded ordnance, threatening lives and livelihoods decades after the conflict ended.
Despite international calls and funding for de-mining initiatives, progress has been painstakingly slow.
Government reluctance and inadequate prioritization of de-mining efforts have left rural communities, including farmers, children, and travellers, vulnerable to these hidden killers.
Landmines have not only claimed lives but have also stunted economic development in affected regions.
Roads remain dangerous, agricultural land is rendered unusable, and fear of explosions limits mobility, trapping communities at perpetual risk.
Organizations like HALO Trust and MAG (Mines Advisory Group) have made strides in clearing landmines in Zimbabwe, but resource gaps and government commitment persist.
Without decisive action, landmine-related casualties will continue to haunt the nation, turning peaceful communities into minefields of sorrow.
