Photo story of hope for Zimbabwe

Mine clearance through the lens: a photo story of hope in Zimbabwe

Tom Wellings is HALO’s programme officer for Zimbabwe. Working closely with local communities he is witness to the stark reality of life next to one of the densest minefields in the world. A keen photographer, Tom has used his lens to capture the positive impact mine clearance has had on the village of Chivere. In his own words, this is an insight into the stories behind his powerful images.

Before HALO Zimbabwe’s arrival in 2016, the minefields that ran through the village of Chivere caused the local community three central problems, each affecting a different aspect of village life. Firstly, over half the 400 children who attended nearby Ganganyama Primary School had to walk alongside or through a minefield to get to class, causing fear and stress for both children and parents; secondly, the village cattle dipping tank was surrounded by minefields, putting the health of the local herd at risk; and finally, the reluctance of public transport to visit an area with such a severe mine-threat had left the village isolated and its economy withered.

As programme officer, I have been working with HALO Zimbabwe’s deminers in Chivere for one-and-a-half years. In this time I have witnessed the significant impact our demining is having on the village, and I have seen at first-hand how people are now enjoying safe access, and starting to take advantage of opportunities presented by cleared land.

Ganganyama School

There can be few places in the world where the journey to school was more hazardous than that faced by the children of Ganganyama Primary School in Chivere. One of the densest barrier minefields in the world ran within 300 metres of the school playground. It is hard to imagine how parents back home in my own country would cope with having their kids walk alongside a minefield to get to school every day, but here, in this forgotten corner of Zimbabwe, it was a fact of life that could not be avoided.

Now that clearance of the minefields closest to the school has been completed, a weight has been lifted from the community’s shoulders.

Directly across from the school, a malaria clinic has just been built on HALO-cleared land. The headmaster believes that the establishment of this much needed medical facility is a sign that life is returning to Chivere, and that the village is no longer a forgotten outpost, known only for the hazard of its minefields.

“Two of our children have fallen victim to mines since I became headmaster here. One of those children died from horrific injuries, and the incident affected our pupils deeply. I cannot tell you how much of a relief it is, as a headmaster responsible for the lives of 400 kids, to know that there is no longer a chance of losing a child to the minefield again.” Simon Vhruta, headmaster.

Cattle Dipping Tank

If you walk a kilometre east of Ganganyama Primary, you reach the village’s cattle dipping tank—a particularly important facility in an area where cattle farming is one of the primary sources of income. Until recently, Chivere's cattle farmers had to herd their livestock through a minefield in order to reach the tank, and any animal that strayed from the path was in danger of losing its life. Some farmers were unwilling to take the risk of accessing the dip tank, but their animals were then left vulnerable to disease. Following HALO’s demining all the local farmers are now happy to use the dipping tank.

“Since demining started, attendance at the dip tank has increased by around a third. We have added more dipping days to the calendar to accommodate the extra heads of livestock. Now everyone should be able to keep their animals free of diseases such as tick-fever, which will benefit us all.” Frederick, dip tank administrator

Combi-Bus to Chivere

For people living in Zimbabwe’s most isolated villages, the combi bus—a public mini bus that drives a set route—is the lifeblood of the community and one of few practical transport links with the outside world. People use the affordable combi buses for all sorts of reasons: to take their goods to market, to go shopping, to visit the clinic or hospital, or simply to keep in touch with relatives.

Before demining started, Chivere was linked to the nearest large town by just one combi-bus per day, a totally inadequate service for the village’s population of over 800 people. I was told that the bus drivers were simply too scared to make the journey owing to the mines.

In recent months, however, the number of combi buses visiting Chivere each day has risen from one to four. I recently stopped to chat with some passengers in an early morning combi heading for Chomutukutu town, 20 km to the south east of Chivere. Some passengers were visiting relatives, some were going to market to sell produce they had grown, one passenger was taking her son to the medical clinic, and another was going to buy fuel for the Chivere village grinding mill.

“There are hundreds of people living in this area, and there are ten seats in a combi. At times we all need to visit town to carry out our business, and one combi was definitely not enough!” Joshua Vheru, Chivere

Soon, Chivere Village will be mine free, but sadly many other communities along Zimbabwe’s northern border continue to endure the daily threat of landmines. HALO’s target of a mine free Zimbabwe by 2025 will require a great deal of effort and commitment, but with the ongoing support of donors, large and small, I am confident it is a target we can achieve. Watching Chivere village gradually get back on its feet after 40 years of landmine contamination serves as a perfect reminder of why this effort is so worthwhile.

Tom's photographs are being exhibited at the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention in Vienna, 18-21 December 2017.