The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to helping Zimbabwe become a landmine-free country by 2025, with an additional USD5.5 million in funding to support demining activities in Mashonaland East and Central Mashonaland provinces.
This funding has been allocated to Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and The HALO Trust, two organizations actively working on landmine clearance in Zimbabwe. The initiative will not only save lives but will also create employment opportunities within the demining teams, particularly for women.
British Ambassador Pete Vowles during his visit to Rushinga, Mashonaland Central praised the bravery and dedication of the deminers working tirelessly to create safe and secure environments in communities in Zimbabwe.
“The UK remains committed in its determination to work towards a mine-free world and is delighted to award this extra funding to MAG and The HALO Trust so they can continue to protect lives and open up opportunities for economic development for affected communities. The UK is proud to be working in partnership with the Zimbabwean Mine Action Committee (ZIMAC) and to help deliver the Government of Zimbabwe’s demining strategy,” said Vowles.
Oliver Gerard-Pearse, HALO Zimbabwe’s Programme Manager, highlighted the critical importance of the UK’s continued support.
“With this continued support from the UK Government, HALO will be able to ensure that fewer children in Rushinga and Mudzi are forced to choose between walking through a minefield or receiving an education. And fewer parents will have to choice between feeding their families or working their farmland close to dangerous explosives. We are very grateful for the life-saving collaboration between the UK Government, The HALO Trust, Mines Advisory Group and the Government and people of Zimbabwe that this funding represents,” said Gerard-Pearse.
Under the new allocation, MAG will deliver clearance and risk education in Mashonaland East, while The HALO Trust will provide similar services in both Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East.
The recent funding is part of the UK’s larger Global Mine Action Programme (GMAP), which pledged USD 22.2 million for mine clearance across eight countries in 2024, including Zimbabwe.
The UK has supported Zimbabwe’s demining efforts through the GMAP programme, with funding beginning in 2016. Zimbabwe’s landmine were laid in the 1970s by the former white-minority government. Today, nearly 18.3 km² of land is still contaminated.
The additional funding represents a vital step in Zimbabwe’s efforts to rid its land of mines and return it to productive use. It will improve local livelihoods, and bring the country closer to its goal of achieving landmine-free status by 2025 under the Ottawa Convention.