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Though Angola’s civil war ended in 2002, the legacy of this quarter-century long conflict means that, for much of the population, daily tasks like fetching water or walking to school can end in tragedy.
Luzi is a village in the eastern province of Moxico. Like many communities in this war-torn part of the country, Luzi was heavily fought over by Government and UNITA forces during the war. Residents began to flee in the 1980s as a result, seeking refuge in neighbouring Zambia, and by 1995 the village had been deserted.
Ten years later, with peace prevailing, the first families began to return. But while the fighting had stopped, hidden dangers remained, as Luzi had been heavily mined by both sides during the conflict. Between 2005 and 2009 there were four accidents in the village.
Those people who had returned lived in fear that their next step may be their last; many who wanted to come home were too frightened to do so.
Between 2010 and 2012, MAG cleared 137,715 m2 of land in Luzi, removing 52 anti-personnel landmines, 17 anti-tank mines and 10 items of unexploded ordnance.
The impact of this work has been huge. In 2007, the village had a population of 65. The community did not have any access to social services: in the event of illness, locals would have to go to the hospital in the city of Luena, 185km away, while school classes were held in the Catholic church.
Today, there are more than 2,000 people living in Luzi. A market, school, health centre and housing have all been built on the cleared area, and land is being used for farming.
“I’m very happy with MAG’s work in my village,” says Soba [chief] Candala, the village leader. “MAG removed the threat and enabled us to build new houses and use land for agriculture. And because the land is now safe, I’ve been able to ask the Government for a mobile phone antenna and a water pump.”
The new school has eight classrooms and educates almost 1,000 pupils from Luzi and the nearby villages of Chifioio, Saihanjica and Sautale. The health centre employs two nurses and receives around 20 patients each day from the surrounding area.
Though the impact of the work to date has been high, the massive scale of the landmine problem in Moxico province means that, beyond Luzi, many hazards remain. And with people still returning to the area, there is a need for further clearance.
See also: WATCH ONLINE Surviving the Peace: Angola
For more information on MAG's work in Angola and worldwide, please go to www.maginternational.org.
