Man dies as 5 landmines explode in his arms

Man dies as 5 landmines explode in his arms

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By Agencies

A VILLAGER in northeastern Zimbabwe was killed when five landmines he dug up to use against marauding elephants exploded in his arms, news reports said on Wednesday.

Christian Munetsi had planned to use the mines to protect his maize field from elephants that roam the remote Rushinga district, local police official Michael Munyikwa told state-run media.

Anti-personnel and vehicle mines were strewn along Zimbabwe's northeastern border with Mozambique during the seven-year bush war that led to independence from Britain in 1980. Some have since been exposed by seasonal rains, making the area "extremely dangerous," Munyikwa said.

Earlier this month, police reported two other people injured by landmines in the region.

Military engineers have been deployed in the area to warn villagers against handling any exposed mines.

Zimbabwe's former white rulers placed mine fields along the borders with Mozambique and Zambia in a bid to prevent black guerrilla fighters from infiltrating their homeland.

Attempts to clear the fields have met with little success because of shifting soil along river banks and a shortage of money and equipment to sweep remote areas. - Sapa-AP
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