TOWARDS A SOUTHERN AFRICA FREE OF ANTI-PERSONNEL LANDMINES A DECLARATION BY THE HEADS OF STATE OR GOVERNMENT OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY( SADC) WE, the Heads of State or Government of the Southern African Development Community: Recall that tens of thousands of freedom fighters were killed or maimed by landmines, during the struggle for independence, justice, peace and security in some of the Southern African countries; Recognise that tens of thousands of innocent men, women and children are killed or maimed by landmines every year; Commend the courage and commitment of the humanitarian deminers, ‘who daily risk their lives to remove these deadly weapons from the soils of affected countries; Take note of the urgent need for a comprehensive global ban of antipersonnel landmines and greatly expanded programmes for mine clearing and victim assistance; Recognise that a comprehensive ban rests on the international Treaty banning the production and use of landmines and call for humanitarian clearing of landmines and assisting landmine victims; Recognise the particular importance of this year as the international community moves towards the signing of a Treaty concerning the total ban of the use of anti-personnel mines in Ottawa, Canada, in December 1997; Welcome the various initiatives taken by SADC Governments to convene meetings to discuss a complete ban on anti-personnel landmines; Recall the OAU Resolutions 1593 and 1628 of June 1995 and February 1996, respectively, urging African States to actively participate in matters conceming demining and to adopt a common position in relation to the call for a complete ban on the production, use, development, trade and stockpiling of anti-personnel landmines.