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Report on the Churches and Christian Alliance, Operation Murambatsvina commemoration march
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
May 22, 2006

Background
On 19th May 2006, Pastors fought hard to have permission granted to Churches and the Christian Alliance to hold a Commemoration March on Operation Murambatsvina. Late at 6:30pm on the same day of the 19th May, the High Court granted the Churches and Christian Alliance the right to march.

Operation Murambatsvina commemoration march (20th May 2006)
The late granting of the permission to march, and the police who had been moving around the Bulawayo suburbs to intimidate people did not deter the Pastors and the people in Bulawayo to go ahead with the Operation Murambatsvina Commemoration March.

Early on the Saturday morning of the 20th May, the police once more wanted to block the march by demanding for a written High Court judgement on the right to march by the Churches and the Christian Alliance. Since some of the high ranking police officers had been present at the High Court judgement of the 19th May, they knew pretty well, that late on that Friday evening, the High Court had not had time to write that judgement, on the right to march.

After some negotiations on the Commemoration March between the Pastors and the police, the latter then pointed out to the former that the route that the Pastors had initially planned for, had to be changed because the new route had adequate security from the police. In addition, the police pointed out that the children under seven years of age would not be allowed to participate in the Commemoration March.

However, the Pastors told women with babies and young children to board a lorry carrying the music system to the venue of the Commemoration Ceremony. On arriving at the venue, it was learnt that the police had ordered those women with babies and young children to disembark from the lorry.

People participating in the Commemoration March stood in a line of fours with Pastors walking in front and some Pastors walking from behind. The participants in the Commemoration March numbered between 400 and 500 people. They were told by the Pastors to report anyone behaving in a manner intended to disturb the Commemoration March, to the Pastors themselves or to the Police.

During the Commemoration March, people sang the whole way. Bystanders along the road watched with amazement. Within half an hour, we had reached the destination where the Commemoration Ceremony would take place..

Pastors gave speeches and prayed, and individuals read poems in memory of the victims of Operation Murambatsvina. In addition, names of dead male and female victims of Operation Murambatsvina in Bulawayo were called out. Surviving Victims, both men and women whose identities were not made known to the participants of the march for fear of victimisation, narrated their ordeals, on how their houses and property were destroyed and burnt. They pointed out that some of their sick relatives died under the roof of Churches that had kindly offered them shelter. One gentleman was found dead in the woods and rats had started attacking his corpse.

Solidarity messages were given by representatives from Father Pius Ncube, Christian Alliance and Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition.

Some of the pastors' demands
In conclusion, the Pastors made demands directed at international and regional organisations among them, the United Nations. Some of the demands were as follows: " Freedom of conscience, assembly and expression " Right of Zimbabweans to housing, education and health, among other services " Right of Zimbabweans to Good Governance " That the current president of the Zimbabwe agrees to a dialogue " That a People Driven Constitution be conducted

Conclusion
The positive judgement of the High Court is to be commended, and the successful Operation Murambatsvina Commemoration March by Churches and Christian Alliance, give hope and confidence to Zimbabweans that, they should continue fighting for their rights to Good Governance.

By Spokesperson for Crisis Coalition in Zimbabwe - Dr E Marunda

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