Zimbabwe clears landmines to reclaim farmland
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Kenias Chihumo and Daniel Kutsakatika are among Zimbabweans living with disabilities caused by landmines laid between 1974 and 1979. Chihumo lost both legs in separate explosions in 1988 and 2001 while farming near the Mudze River in Mudzi district. Kutsakatika lost a leg in an explosion while walking home from work, impacting his ability to provide for his family.
Since 1980, between 1,500 and 1,700 people have been killed or injured by landmines in Zimbabwe, and over 120,000 cattle have died. In response, Project RECLAIM began in August 2025 with funding from the Government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The project aims to clear landmines in Mudzi and Rushinga districts. As of October 2026, teams had cleared over 173,000 square metres of land and destroyed more than 2,500 landmines in those areas.
The Zimbabwean Defence ministry stated it will continue to secure resources for mine clearance and development. The project is scheduled to continue until December 2028, with the goal of releasing more land for farming, grazing, and safe passage for communities affected by the decades-old minefields.
