Zimbabwe has cleared more than 12 000 anti-personnel landmines and reclaimed approximately 3.5 million square metres of land in Mudzi, opening up new opportunities for agriculture, irrigation development and economic recovery in communities affected by decades of mine contamination.
The milestone, achieved by the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) since it began operating in Mudzi in 2018, is supporting Government efforts to turn previously inaccessible land into productive assets under Project RECLAIM, which links demining with agricultural development and livelihood restoration.
The initiative brings together the Government, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Japan, with the next phase focusing on irrigation infrastructure and climate-resilient farming to improve food security, create employment and strengthen rural livelihoods.
UNDP country representative, Dr Ayodele Odusola, said mine clearance must be followed by measures that enable communities to derive lasting economic benefits from reclaimed land.
“Clearing the mines is only the first step. Safe land must also become productive land so that it feeds families, creates jobs, brings incomes to these communities. This is what makes Project RECLAIM different,” he said.
Odusola said the project’s next phase would prioritise irrigation infrastructure to enable farmers to produce throughout the year and withstand climate-related shocks.
Working with the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, the initiative will draw lessons from existing climate-resilient agricultural projects, including the 50-hectare Gororo irrigation scheme in Chipinge.
The developments emerged during a high-level Project RECLAIM field mission in Mudzi, on Tuesday, where Government officials and development partners assessed clearance operations and discussed plans to maximise the productive use of reclaimed land.
Deputy Minister of Defence, Brigadier General (Retired) Levy Mayihlome, said landmines continued to threaten lives, restrict access to agricultural land and undermine livelihoods in affected communities.
“Government will therefore continue to mobilise resources to accelerate mine clearance and promote inclusive development,” he said.
MAG country director, Peter Avenell, said minefields had isolated communities from ancestral land, cross-border trading opportunities and natural resources for almost five decades.
He said families had been forced to repeatedly cultivate the same plots because surrounding areas remained inaccessible, contributing to soil degradation. Some children also walked up to seven kilometres through the bush to avoid contaminated areas on their way to school.
Avenell said clearing the land would allow communities to expand agricultural production, access water and utilise natural resources such as timber, honey and baobab seeds to diversify their livelihoods.
Project RECLAIM, launched in August 2025, is jointly funded by Japan and UNDP. Japan committed 433 million yen, approximately US$2.95 million, while UNDP is contributing US$400 000.
The programme is being implemented by MAG and The HALO Trust in partnership with the Ministry of Defence through the Zimbabwe Mine Action Centre.
Odusola said UNDP would also support a comprehensive survey of landmine survivors to establish their needs and inform targeted assistance programmes.
He reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Zimbabwe’s goal of eliminating the remaining landmine threat by 2030, while ensuring that cleared land contributes to sustainable agricultural production, economic empowerment and improved livelihoods in affected communities.
