HARARE, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Tuesday appealed to the international community to help clear anti-personnel landmines infesting parts of the country ahead of the 2025 deadline set by the Ottawa Convention on the prohibition of production, transfer, stockpiling and use of antipersonnel landmines.
The mines were planted by the colonial Rhodesian regime during the country's protracted war of independence.
Addressing thousands of people and military personnel at the commemoration of Defense Forces day, Mugabe said two more organizations had been roped in to help the Zimbabwe Defense Forces and two other non-governmental organizations that are clearing the landmines.
"The two organizations are expected to start operating before the end of 2017 and it is our fervent hope that their coming on board will enhance our chances of meeting the world deadline.
"But those who say that we should have completed removing the landmines should assist us and not only say that we should comply while they are not giving us any assistance," he said.
