The African Union has praised Zimbabwe's efforts in removing landmines of the era of the white minority government, a state-owned newspaper said.
"We are happy with what the Government of Zimbabwe has done to reach this milestone in demining. This visit is part of the African Union (AU) commitment to a mine-free Africa so we are here as part of this oath; this is due to the political and humanitarian will as Africans to achieve our continental goal of a mine-free Africa," AU’s ambassador for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Limam El Jalil said during a meeting with Zimbabwean Defense Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri in the country’s capital, Harare, as quoted by a state-owned newspaper.
The mission of the AU, as well as the United Nations Office to the AU, is to supervise the implementation of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention in the African country.
According to the state-owned newspaper, about 18.3 square kilometers of the Zimbabwean territory is still covered with landmines.