Back to Index

This article participates on the following special index pages:

Stop waging war against the poor
Crisis in Zimbabwe Secretariat
May 27, 2005

Since Wednesday the 19^th of May 2005, the government of Zimbabwe unleashed its regiment of violence, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the army, green bombers and Harare City Council security to wantonly destroy and torment informal merchants in the towns and cities of Zimbabwe. The Crisis Coalition strongly condemns this uncivilized behaviour and urges the government to halt its illegal attacks against the unemployed, women and the poor.

Citizens of Zimbabwe, let us wake up. Let us speak out against the violence being unleashed on us by the Zimbabwe Republic police, the army, green bombers and Harare city council security officers.

We demand that each member of the uniformed forces who are true sons and daughters of Zimbabwe, and not fake sons and daughters of Zimbabwe to stand in front of the mirror, and answer these questions.

• Where is the source of my salary?
• What are my duties?
• Am I ethical in my conduct of duties?
• Am I Supposed to carry out inhumane commands from my superiors?
• In face the nation on the 26^th of May the Minister of Local Government that the population in
  Bulawayo and Harare increased to 600 000 and 3. 5 million respectively since 1980 and that three quarters of the people in Harare live in cabins. As a result, vehicles have increased and so there is traffic congestion. The demand for water and electricity has increased.

Let it be noted that high unemployment has been due to the closure of some mines, manufacturing concerns, the chaotic land reform that has also destroyed tourism in the process. Yet, these are four major sectors of the economy from which foreign currency was being earned for Zimbabwe.

a) As rural urban migration increased, where was the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the newly formed small to medium enterprises ministry? Where were they? Eating the fruits, leaves and stems of independence? Think again, what were they doing? Did they see rural urban migration as the great trek, which was of no concern of theirs?

b) Why did they not build more water sources or develop the necessary infrastructure in rural areas?

One reason given by the Minister for this sudden need for cleanliness is the need to improve the image of Zimbabwean towns. Really? Why now two months after parliamentary elections? Why now when we are faced with 2008 presidential elections? The reason should be simple; the movement of rural folk from towns back to the rural areas will increase the electorate for 2008 presidential elections.

Mugabe’s war against the poor comes in the background of unsustainable foreign currency, fuel and food shortages. In an economy where the informal sector employs 80% of the labour force, torching peoples markets and arresting street kids will not help the economy let alone bring fuel, foreign currency or fill the granaries of Zimbabwe.

The flimsy explanation that the current terror is war on dirt is as silly as it is far from the truth. It smacks of hypocrisy that the government spends millions of dollars destroying market and industrial stalls, the livelihood of its people looking for foreign currency whilst the people within the government continue to send their children to schools and colleges abroad paying in foreign currency, and more government ministries have been added. Now 30 government ministries in Zimbabwe, the largest cabinet in the world!

The current war on workers is in contrast to one of the virtues of the liberation struggle, sovereignty.

The Mugabe regime is negating the wishes of thousands of people who sacrificed their lives for independence. This confirms that the people of Zimbabwe are not free from their government, and people will not let their sovereignty and freedom go. Sovereignty will be guarded and the people have begun to do so in various suburbs of Harare.

At a time when the people are hungry, it makes more sense for the government to use people taxes to secure fuel and food, rather than using people’s taxes to torment them by importing tear smoke.

Arrests, torture and property vandalism in the name of "cleaning the city" does not bring foreign currency, food or fuel. The government must urgently compensate the full market value of the property of the informal sector traders. It must withdraw its regiment of violence from residential areas. The current onslaught against Zimbabweans will not solve the twin crises of legitimacy and governance. It shall and never will through violence.

Visit the Crisis in Zimbabwe fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP