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8 Years on, we remember victims of Operation Murambatsvina
Heal Zimbabwe
Trust
May 31, 2013
It is now 8
years after the infamous cleanup campaign code-named operation
Murambatsvina that displaced millions of people in Zimbabwe
in 2005. It has been a long eight years since the eviction started
in Harare on the 19th of May 2005 and people’s lives have
never been the same. Official Government figures released on July
7, 2005 showed that the total number of people affected by Murambatsvina
were 2.4 million which is 18% of the population. The United Nations
(UN) estimated that operation Murambatsvina affected at least 700,000
people directly. Many people lost their properties and sources of
livelihoods during the operation. The exercise was carried out during
the winter season leading to many losing their lives due to the
cold weather. Two babies were also crushed to death in their homes
under the relentless shovels of bulldozers.
It is sad to
note that the Operation was carried out in a military fashion by
armed police and members of the army with minimal notification to
the general populace and in contravention of the Constitution
of Zimbabwe and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights to which Zimbabwe is a signatory. It is regrettable
that up to now many victims of the operation remain without any
source of livelihood, many remain without a roof on their head and
many have died due to unbearable conditions they have been forced
to live in at squatter camps. Families were broken, children lost
out on attending school, many were forced into prostitution and
yet little has been done to ensure that lives are restored. Government
in an attempt to cover up for the cruelty of operation Murambatsvina
carried out a sham exercise dubbed Operation Garikai/ Hlalani Kuhle
which was ill planned and failed to meet the overwhelming demand
for accommodation.
Victims of Murambatsvina
continue to suffer and their wounds have not been healed. It is
HZT's hope that the Government reintegrates these people and provides
compensation as well as decent houses. No justice has been done
over the years. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission needs to seriously
look into this issue and proffer solutions to the victims. There
is need to push the Government to fully take up the recommendations
of UN Secretary General's Special Envoy (the Tibaijuka Report),
listed below:
- The need
for the Government to compensate those whose property was unlawfully
destroyed.
- The Government
should create a conducive environment for effective relief.
- The need
for reconstruction and resettlement.
- Ensuring
unhindered access of humanitarian workers and delivery of aid
to victims of the operation.
- Holding
to account those responsible for planning and executing the operation,
including through prosecution where laws were broken.
- Granting
full citizenship to former migrant workers residing for a long
period in Zimbabwe and their descendants.
Visit the Heal
Zimbabwe fact
sheet
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