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Angola Diary
22th - 28th September 2003
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I was born in Omupanda mission Hospital, Ondjiva, on the 24th of February 1974. I did part of my Primary Education in Castanhera, Lubango from 1985 to 1988. All the people of Ondjiva had vacated the town due to the South African occupation forces. My mother was among many people who took refuge in Lubango in a place called Castanhera which was designated a provisional town for Ondjiva. My father died in 1976. He was killed by UNITA at Omupanda mission.
I only went up to Grade 8, I could not continue with my Education because of family problems. I had to be at home most of the time helping my mother in various kinds of work in order for us to survive. We are ten of us in the family, five boys and five girls. When we came back from Lubango, we found our home destroyed. Our fields were littered with UXOs and most of the surrounding areas were mine suspected.
Our daily life was very difficult as our movements were very restricted. In 1999 a Humanitarian demining organization called MAG, came to Ondjiva. I was fortunate enough to get employed by this organization. The primary task of MAG was to get rid of the Uxos in and around Ondjiva. Our area was also cleared. Then we were able to circulate around and cultivate our fields freely.
Many of my family members did not want me to be a deminer because they thought the job was too risky and only men were better suited for it. I declined to accept this advice because I at least needed a job in order to sustain my living and be able to care for my old mother and my child. After my training, I realized the job was also good for females. Yes, I admit the risk involved but demining can not just be left to men alone. The risk the mines pose, is for all of us. The most important thing is to observe the correct procedures in order to reduce this risk, while working in the mine field. In MAG, it is an obligation for everybody to observe the safety procedures at any time while working.
Now, I am a Community Liaison Officer. I have traveled many times within Cunene Province gathering information. Part of my job is to give Mine Risk Education. During these meetings and contacts, we also receive numerous mine and UXO accident reports .The victims are mostly children and so we pay more attention to children, to teach them what these ordnances look like and to stress to them not to touch them when they find them. Now the level of accidents has reduced drastically due to our campaign. This operational strategy has made MAG more popular than any other demining organization I know. Therefore, I would like the Japanese Television Broadcasting System to continue funding MAG and also influence other donors to do the same. There are still many mines in the Province.
Fernanda Mwaulange
Community Liaison Officer
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