wfn.org | Peacemaker Visits Mine-Clearing Squad in Zimbabwe

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

Reply-To: wfn-news list <wfn-news@wfn.org>
6-January-1999 
 99006 
 
    Presbyterian Peacemaker Visits 
    Mine-Clearing Squad in Zimbabwe 
 
    by Jerry Van Marter 
 
HARARE, Zimbabwe  - Delegates and visitors to the recent Eighth Assembly of 
the World Council of Churches added to their knowledge of Zimbabwe and its 
culture by visiting beautiful Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River in the 
western part of the country. 
 
    Most were unaware that the nearby town of Victoria Falls is almost 
completely surrounded by mine fields laid during Zimbabwe's war of 
liberation. 
 
    As part of his participation in the assembly, Gary Payton, coordinator 
of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, visited the Zimbabwe National 
Army's Mine Clearance Squadron at a camp just outside Victoria Falls. 
 
    The squadron is charged with clearing mine fields along a 143-kilometer 
stretch of the Zambezi River and educating local citizens to prevent 
further deaths and injuries from the subterranean explosives. 
 
    From 1976 through 1979, the security forces of what was then Rhodesia 
laid thousands of anti-personnel mines along about 700 kilometers of the 
country's northern and eastern borders, to defend against anti-government 
guerrillas operating from neighboring Zambia and Mozambique. The mines are 
among an estimated 60 million to 70 million that are killing and maiming 
civilians in more than 50 countries around the world. 
 
    The Zimbabwean government has confirmed 46 civilian deaths and more 
than 210 injuries caused by land mines since the war ended in 1979; 
civilian experts put the numbers much higher. The mines also pose a danger 
to livestock and wild animals, including elephants. 
 
    Mined areas cannot be recovered for agriculture, grazing or commercial 
development until they have been cleared of the explosives -- an expensive 
and time-consuming process. The temporary loss of thousands of acres of 
mined land has worsened Zimbabwe's post-war financial woes and slowed its 
economic recovery. 
 
    Payton received briefings on the squadron's mine-clearing techniques 
and a demonstration of the hand-held detectors used in hilly terrain that 
is inaccessible to the unit's armor-plated roller-bulldozer. 
 
    Payton briefed the squadron members on the International Campaign to 
Ban Land Mines and on the Ottawa Treaty that outlaws the production, sale 
and use of anti-personnel mines. He thanked the soldiers on behalf of the 
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for "your courage and dedication to rid your 
country of these killing weapons." 
 
    The United States is among a handful of countries that have not signed 
the Ottawa Treaty; U.S. officials argue that land mines are necessary to 
national security in such places as the demilitarized zone between North 
Korea and South Korea. The 1997 treaty, with 130 signatories, "enters into 
force" in March 1999. The Clinton administration has indicated that the 
United States will not approve it before the year 2006. 
 
    Since it achieved independence in 1980, Zimbabwe has received 
substantial mine-clearing assistance from the United States, Germany and 
the European Commission. In 1998, U.S. Army Special Forces provided 
mine-clearing equipment and training to the Zimbabwe National Army. The 
U.S. has provided more than $250 million in mine-clearing aid so far. 
 
    Zimbabwe, like many other nations littered with anti-personnel mines, 
is responding with both military and civilian mine-clearing operations. The 
National Demining Office in Harare is sweeping areas near the country's 
eastern border with Mozambique. 
 
    PC(USA) members, through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, have 
channeled financial support to civilian mine-clearing and education 
programs in Cambodia, Mozambique and several other countries. 
 
    An Extra Commitment Opportunity (ECO) account for mine-clearing and 
public education has been established to allow individual Presbyterians and 
congregations to respond to this global menace. The account number is ECO# 
9-2000-132. 
 
    Additionally, the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program has published an 
education resource, "On Their Behalf: A Call to Presbyterians for 
Immediate Action on Landmines," urging Presbyterians to ask their political 
representatives to support the ban on anti-personnel mines.  The report may 
be ordered by calling Presbyterian Distribution Services at 1-800-524-2612 
and requesting product number PDS # 70-270-97-022 (free). 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  This note sent by PCUSA NEWS
  to the wfn-news list <wfn-news@wfn.org>.
  Send unsubscribe requests to wfn-news-request@wfn.org