Tragedy Strikes in Binga: Anti-Tank Mine Explosion Kills Three
By Cimba Shepherd Nhamo
A devastating incident occurred in Binga on Wednesday when a vehicle carrying six people struck an anti-tank mine. The landmine is believed to be a left over from the liberation struggle. The powerful explosion killed three people and injured three others, leaving the community in shock and grief.
The incident happened near Sebungwe Mouth area in the Binga district when the driver of a Binga Rural District Council vehicle decided to take a shortcut due to muddy conditions on the main road. Unfortunately, the vehicle ran over the unexposed landmine which exploded and threw the vehicle onto its right side.
The impact of the explosion was severe and it caused extensive damage to the vehicle and injuring all six occupants. The injured, all employees of Binga RDC, were rushed to Simatelele Clinic but later transferred to Binga District Hospital because of their conditions. Sadly, two of the injured, Wonder and Yuna, died shortly after arrival whilst a third person who happens to be a woman is said to have died on the spot.
The survivors who included the driver Mr Micka Munsaka and two other passengers Obert Brown Munkuli and Nonsern Munsaka are receiving treatment for their injuries. The driver suffered serious injuries as he suffered broken bones and lacerations.
According to the deputy director of army public relations Colonel Tichafa Mungofa, the anti-tank mine was likely a remnant from the liberation struggle exposed due to recent rains and weather conditions. The Zimbabwe National Army has confirmed that the area was not marked as a minefield.
“The Zimbabwe National Army would like to confirm that a vehicle belonging to Binga Rural District Council was hit by an anti-tank mine at Sebungwe Sanctuary in Binga on January 8, 2025, at 5 pm,” said Lieutenant Colonel Mungofa. “Investigations revealed that the place of the incident was not marked as a minefield and that the anti-tank mine could be a remnant from the liberation struggle which was exposed due to recent rains and weather conditions.”
The incident has raised concerns about the presence of landmines in Zimbabwe particularly in rural areas. The country has been working to clear landmines and other explosive remnants of war but the process has been slow and very challenging.
The government has been appealing to the international community for assistance in clearing the landmines which are a legacy of the country’s liberation war. The presence of landmines continues to pose a threat to human lives and particularly in rural areas where people rely on agriculture and livestock for their survival.
The incident is a tragic reminder of the dangers posed by landmines and the need for continued efforts to clear them. The Zimbabwean government and international organisations must work together to ensure that communities like Binga are safe and free from the threat of landmines.
