Still gnawing: landmines and security governance in Zimbabwe

Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) are causing various social challenges to mine-affected countries worldwide. This ethnographic study seeks an unbridled understanding of the landmine scourge on a local scale. Therefore, fieldwork is conducted in Mukumbura, Zimbabwe. Data are collected through interviews, participation and observations. Policy documents, journal articles and books were also used for analysis. More effort is put into gathering and analysing the unstudied knowledge of the people within the proximity of a minefield to understand their encounters and experiences with mines. The study finds that landmines and ERW are indiscriminately maiming and killing both humans and non-humans, instilling fear, restricting access to agricultural land; causing food insecurity, health problems and land degradation; inhibiting spatial development and causing some people failing to meet their aspirations. Demining is in full throttle, but the progress and quality are meagre and questionable. Thus, the study recommends commissioning periodic surveys, use of technology, investing in innovative finance, sprucing up trauma care and rehabilitation centres, and engaging in research and development to enhance mine action. Although this study geographically focuses on Zimbabwe and the international relations domain, it has a transdisciplinary conversation that informs other mine-affected countries.