Huambo – The Angolan minister of Social Welfare, João Baptista Kussumua, Saturday in central Huambo province, witnessed the launch of mechanised demining equipment and closed the four-month programme that trained 21 mine clearing specialists.

With this equipment, comprising ten BM307FV30 and BM307FV33 Hitachi machine of Japanese make, the Angolan Government is seeking to boost the demining process in the country.

 
During the training, the 21 specialists from the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) and of the National Demining Institute (INAD) learned new techniques, mechanised demining rules, remote and hand control of the equipment, maintenance and minefield operation.

 
One of the trainers, Fausto Machete, said the machines are of great weight (30-33 tons), complex and fast, and require experience, attention and responsibility from the operator.

 
Speaking at the ceremony, minister João Kussumua, who is coordinator of the National Executive Demining Commission, said the machine base will support all needing regions.

 
He said the newly trained personnel are part of a group of 138 specialists upgraded during the first semester of this year, totalling 159 operators.

He added that until October this year, a total of 2,119 anti-personnel landmines were destroyed, including 86,161 unexploded ordnance and four million kilograms of lethal material.

 
According to the him, the operations led to the clearing of 1,751 kilometres of land for the installation of optic fibre, 136 kilometres of roads, 722 kilometres of railroad, 225 kilometres of land for high tension electricity conveying lines and 51 million square metres of land.

 
 
In his turn, Huambo governor, Albino Malungo, praised the initiative, saying it will help accomplish Government programme designed to improve people’s living.