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Zanu PF legislator confiscates clean-up aid, hands it over to own
supporters
ZimOnline
November
01, 2005
http://www.zimonline.co.za/printme.asp?ID=10932
HARARE – The
Combined Harare Residents Association has accused a ruling ZANU
PF legislator in the city of confiscating humanitarian aid meant
for 19 families that were displaced during a controversial government
clean-up exercise five months ago.
In a statement
to the press on Monday, the association accused Harare South Member
of Parliament Hubert Nyanhongo of confiscating the aid which he
went on to distribute to his party’s supporters in Sunningdale suburb.
The association
said Nyanhongo last week confiscated packets of maize-meal, peanut
butter and blankets that were meant for 19 families that are staying
in the open in the suburb.
"The food
and blankets were forcibly taken by the area MP (Member of Parliament)
Hubert Nyanhongo. He distributed them to ZANU PF supporters at the
Sunningdale Community Hall. He told us that we could not do anything
within his constituency because enemies of the state had sourced
the food," the group said.
The association
said the families were in desperate need of assistance before the
rainy season which is expected to kick off in earnest later this
month.
"When some
rain fell a few days ago, these victims slept in various toilets
after their plastic shelters were overwhelmed by the pouring rains.
They have nowhere to go," the association said.
Nyanhongo could
not be reached for comment on the matter last night.
At least 700
000 people were rendered homeless five months ago after the government
demolished thousands of houses and backyard shacks in a campaign
President Robert Mugabe said was necessary to restore the beauty
of cities and towns.
Another 2.4
million were also directly affected by the exercise, according to
a hard-hitting report compiled by the United Nations special envoy
Anna Tibaijuka.
The United States,
Britain and other major Western powers all criticised the clean-up
campaign while Mugabe accused critics of the campaign of romanticising
squalor.
The veteran
Zimbabwean leader whose government is grappling its worst economic
crisis since independence 25 years ago, promised to build thousands
of "decent" houses for the displaced residents. Very few
houses have been built so far. - ZimOnline
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