Ladmine Explosion Claims Three Lives in Binga

Zim Now Writer

A landmine explosion near the Zambezi River in Binga’s Sebungwe area claimed the lives of three people, including a 14-year-old girl, and injured three others. The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon as the victims were traveling in a Binga Rural District Council vehicle.

Ndavaningi Mangwana, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, confirmed the incident via X on Friday. He disclosed that the explosion happened at Sebungwe Narrows in Simatelele, under Chief Siachilaba. Mangwana stated: "The explosion killed a 14-year-old girl on the spot, and two men passed away in transit to Binga Rural District Hospital."

The Zimbabwe National Army de-mining team is currently searching for additional landmines in the area. Mangwana explained that the landmine was not recently planted but is believed to be a remnant of the 1970s Rhodesian Bush War.

The explosion occurred when the vehicle, which had taken an alternative route to avoid mud on the main road, struck the landmine on its return journey. The vehicle had been transporting three council employees to Sebungwe, and several passengers who had requested a lift were among the casualties.

Decades after the Rhodesian Bush War, remnants of an estimated 3 million anti-personnel mines still pose a threat along Zimbabwe’s borders. Despite extensive clearance efforts, some mines remain active, highlighting the enduring danger of these "wartime legacies."