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Hope for promised 'Garikai' homes turns to despair
Caiphas Chimhete, The Standard (Zimbabwe)
October 30, 2005

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/read.php?path=./news/2005/October/Sunday30/&st_id=3248

A new sign written, "Home At Last" sticks out at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Housing Co-operative in Harare's Kambuzuma high-density suburb.

It was erected a month ago after the government announced that it had officially sanctioned the reconstruction of houses at the ill-fated co-operative.

The sign, artistically designed, gives a false sense of belonging to scores of families still living in the open at the demolished co-operative site.

However after last week's light rains, it was clear that "home was far from home" for the families.

Women, with wailing babies on their backs, scurried for shelter but the thin plastic sheeting over their shacks, could not provide enough cover for them and their once glossy furniture.

"For us, it's a big tragedy. We have lost everything we worked for in the past 20 years. First our houses were destroyed and now the remaining property has been reduced to nothing," lamented Enita Gumbo, who looks after three orphaned grandchildren.

Gumbo represents several Zimbabwean families still living in the open after government demolished their homes in May in the internationally condemned-operation. An estimated 700 000 people were rendered homeless, according to the United Nations.

In Harare, several families are still in the open at Whitecliff, Mbare, Hatcliffe and Tafara. Towns such as Chitungwiza, Mutare, Gweru and Bulawayo still have hundreds of families without roofs over their heads.

This is despite government claims that, through "Operation Garikai", a "fast-track housing constructing programme", victims of Murambatsvina would have been housed by the end of the year.

Initially, the government put the deadline at end of August but has constantly changed it after realising that the exercise needed massive resources.

People allocated stands at Whitecliff under the "Garikai" project, will now have to wait for at "least two years" to get the shelter, the government has said.

All this time, the displaced people will be living in the open, exposing them to diseases and harsh weather conditions.

Mosquitoes, which thrive well during the rainy season, are one of the biggest threats to victims, who live in shacks that do not give them enough protection from the vectors.

"We fear for our lives, especially with the rains. This is the time when diseases break out," said one Murehwa, who resides at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo.

Murehwa has built a one-metre high shack from farm bricks without any mortar. Mosquitoes and other small but poisonous creatures such as scorpions, seeking cover can easily creep into the shacks when it rains.

"Living here is as dangerous as living in a forest but we have no choice," he said.

Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) director Itai Rusike urged government to allow non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to assist victims of "Operation Murambatsvina".

The government forbids NGOs from distributing even relief aid to about 2.5 million Zimbabweans who desperately need food aid.

"The government should make sure these people are taken care of. The problem is it (government) has not allowed NGOs to help these people. They urgently need tents and clean water supply," Rusike said.

He warned of a possible outbreak of water-borne diseases such as typhoid, cholera and dysentery as well as malaria with the onset of the rains.

The majority of Murambatsvina victims can no longer afford health fees after the demolition of their homes.

The poorly staffed mobile clinics, which used to provide health services to the affected people, have since stopped offering the service.

"This is the reason why, all along we have been saying, this clean-up operation was not carefully planned because people are now suffering. They are now more exposed, more vulnerable to more serious health threats than before," said Rusike.

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