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Victim of landmine, Mr. William Chongo, continues farming
"I would appreciate seeds or some kind of support."
Moamba, 6 April 2011 – Seven years ago Mr. William Chongo from Mubobo community in Southern Mozambique went to the bush near the power line to cut some trees for charcoal. He stepped on a landmine. It exploded. Since then this man with a wife and three grandsons has worked as a subsistence farmer with one leg and walking sticks.
During the event of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action in Maputo Province, Moamba District, Mr. Chongo told his story as a reminder: clearing land of explosive remnants of war saves lives and protects livelihoods.
Now, at the very same place, the HALO Trust humanitarian deming organization supported by UNDP Mozambique is continuing its technically difficult demining work around the power line between Maputo and the South African boarder post, Komatipoort. These and the former wooden pylons were very heavily mined during the Mozambican civil war (1977-1992).
With an empty trouser leg as a daily reminder of the hazards of mines, Mr. Chongo continues with his farm and takes care of his goats and cows.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Naomi Kitahara:UNDP is committed to support mine action in Mozambique.
“Life has not been easy. All kind of support would be most welcome. My family really would appreciate seeds, water, or a proper house... I was given a prosthesis during the physical rehabilitation in Maputo Hospital soon after the accident, but I don’t use it since it warms the leg”, he explains.
“Last year, through our counterparts, almost 20,000 Mozambican, men, women and school children, received United Nations mine risk education that prevented a tragedy for individuals, families and communities”, told Ms. Naomi Kitahara, the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, during the Mine Awareness Day celebrations.
She reminded the audience, that “mine clearance prevents an indiscriminate weapon from causing harm and havoc long after conflicts have ended, while also creating jobs, transforming danger zones into productive land and setting societies on course for lasting security.” This is especially the case of power line where demining is contributing for both the local population and country’s infrastructure.
William Chongo is farmer in Southern Mozambique.
In his speech Mr. Henrique Banze, the vice-minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, referred to the need of all partners to join forces and contribute to the mine clearance programme of the country.
“Alone here in Maputo Province we still have 21 sites with mines, mostly in Moamba and Matatuíne districts along the high tension pylon line and the railroad, both leading to the boarder of South Africa. All these sites and more than 100 sites in other provinces have to be cleared before our deadline in 2014”, said Minister Banze.
According to the National Demining Institute, in 2010 there were 15 reported mine accidents causing 7 deaths and 24 injuries.
Last year, demining activities were taken place in six provinces, where three humanitarian NGOs and some commercial companies cleared approximately 6.1 million square metres of contaminated land. The remaining clearance task by 2014 consists of approximately 10 million square metres.
In 2010 the national mine action programme received about 11 million USD for demining, mine survey and coordination activities. Out of this, about 6 million USD was directed through UNDP Mozambique.
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