MOSAMBIK

LIMPOPO-RAILWAY

BACKGROUND

Mozambique is known to be one of the most mined countries in the world. It has estimated that during the bloody civil war, somewhere near three million mines were planted. Those mines were made in Portugal, South Africa, Rhodesia, various Eastern Block countries, China and the USA.

All the warring parties planted mines to defend their various military fronts and to inspire terror in land held by their enemy. All the fighting parties were concerned to protect as well to destroy critical parts of the country’s infrastructure.

MINE PROBLEM

That's why shortly after the war, almost all roads, intersections, railways, bridges, waterways, hills (lookout points), etc. were classed as being highly likely to be mined. With the passage of time, the meantime the level of danger can be estimated more accurately. Most roads and a lot of railway tracks are now functional and back in daily use. But just because trains are now rolling once again through the country does not mean that  Mozambique's mine problem has been solved.

Entire regions are still cut off from the network because of the mine threat. And those regions are therefore cut off from the economic re-birth experienced elsewhere. Still urgently needed are successful mine clearance programs that can provide the secure foundation required for the entire country to move forward.

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