|
Angola Diary
20th - 27th July 2003
|
I am a female deminer, born in 1976 in Cuvelai, Cunene Province, in the south of Angola. I did my primary education in Cuvelai, and then completed my Grade 7 in Ondjiva which is 180km from Cuvelai. The life was quite difficult financially. It was hard to feed myself. My father died in 1987, he was killed by UNITA forces right there in Cuvelai. I struggled to find a means to survive and it was hard to get a job. In Ondjiva the job opportunities were slim as there was little economic opportunities at the time. I could have gone back to my home area and till the land, but our home was just next to a big minefield called Makova. Many accidents had been taking place in this minefield. Furthermore, our village was destroyed during the war. I felt better to remain in Ondjiva in terms of security than returning to Cuvelai.
In 1999 I was fortunate enough to be employed by MAG. I got trained as a deminer. After my course I started working with others in many areas around Ondjiva. We have been removing hundreds of UXO and mines throughout the province. I am glad to say that the training I have gained in MAG makes me feel secure to operate in mine suspect areas, including the minefields.
Now we are operating in Makova minefield which is just next to my destroyed home. My mother is now in her old age, and does not want to lead a town life in Ondjiva. She is always pleading to me to take her back home in Cuvelai. It is quite a relief for me that MAG to have undertaken the demining of this minefield near our home. I plan to go back home immediately the clearance is over and begin cultivating our land.
I thank MAG to have employed me despite being a woman and my low level of education because since then my life has improved dramatically. At least I have managed to build myself a house where I live with my old mother and daughter. Therefore I would like to appeal to any interested donors so that more and more mined areas are returned to the community. This will improve the social and economic life of people in these areas. Lastly but not least I would like to pass on my heartfelt regards to the Japanese TV Broadcasting station for funding MAG. Please influence others to do the same. Angola has a very big mine problem which needs to be erardicated. If this is left to the government to do alone, it will take centuries and the economic and social sufferings will take its toll mainly on innocent people.
Maria Zunguma
Deminer
|
|
|