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World
Habitat Day photographic event by Amnesty International Zimbabwe
Upenyu
Makoni-Muchemwa, Kubatana.net
October 05, 2010
A forced eviction is
the removal of people against their will from the homes or land
they occupy without legal protections and other safeguards. Across
Africa hundreds of thousands of people each year are left homeless
when they are forcibly evicted from their homes by the authorities.
In most cases evictions are conducted without any due process, consultation,
adequate notice or compensation. Years after being forcibly evicted,
millions of people remain homeless and destitute, and many have
been driven deeper into poverty.
Over the years Amnesty
International has documented cases of mass forced evictions in African
countries. Governments across Africa have acted in violation of
regional and international law including the African Charter on
Human and People's Rights.
This year to mark World
Habitat Day, Amnesty International staged a photographic exhibition
focusing on forced Evictions at Harare Gardens. Photographs depicted
the aftermath of forced evictions in Angola, Chad, Equatorial Guinea,
Kenya and Zimbabwe.
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| A
house rebuilt from rubble in Banga-We Luanda, Angola, following
repeated forced evictions during 2005 to 2006. Taken February
2007 © Amnesty International |
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| Shelters made from,
materials salvaged from the ruins of demolished houses in Cambamba
2 neighbourhood, Luanda, Angola. February 2007. ©
Amnesty International |
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| A
boy stands in a polluted watercourse that runs through Soweto
East one of the many villages in Kibera slum. Nairobi, Kenya.
March 2009. ©
Amnesty
International |
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| An 84-year-old victim
of the forced evictions carried out in 2005 with her 3 grandchildren.
Harare Zimbabwe, June 2009. ©
Amnesty International. |
In Zimbabwe
the effects of Operation
Murambatsvina in 2005 are still being felt today. An estimated
700 000 people lost their homes and livelihoods. Without any alternatives,
they have remained in poverty. Worst affected, are women, in particular
the elderly, and children, whose circumstances are exacerbated by
the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Amnesty International's
Demand Dignity Campaign around forced evictions has seen some successes.
In May, to mark the fifth anniversary of Operation Murambatsvina,
the Campaign organised a meeting between the Prime Minister, the
Ministry of Housing and Social Amenities, the Ministry of Local
Government and residents of Hatcliffe Extension and Hopley Farm
who were affected. There they recounted their experiences during
and after the forced evictions, as well as the hardships they now
suffered such as having no access to clean water, sanitation services
or healthcare. As a result, the relevant government departments
have drafted a policy for a way in which future evictions may be
carried out. Further, the government now provides mobile clinics
at Hopley Farm. Residents have even reported that the Ministries
of Local Government and Housing have formally apologised for the
manner in which evictions were carried out.
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