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EU envoys meet over Murambatsvina activities ban
Njabulo Ncube, The Financial Gazette
May 24, 2006

http://www.fingaz.co.zw/story.aspx?stid=1197

EUROPEAN Union ambassadors accredited to Zimbabwe yesterday met with the country's civil society following reports that the government had banned activities commemorating the first anniversary of the state-sanctioned Operation Murambatsvina.

Sources privy to the deliberations told The Financial Gazette the EU diplomats had expressed concern the government had not fully implemented the recommendations of the United Nations Special Envoy Anna Tibaijuka on Murambatsvina and that it had also failed to abide by the recommendations of the Africa Commission of Human and People's Rights (ACHPR).

The meeting between the EU diplomats and representatives of various non-governmental organisations under the auspices of the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) came after state security agents stormed the offices of Crisis Coalition of Zimbabwe (CCZ) as they sought the brains behind the commemoration of the widely condemned demolition exercise.

Fambai Ngirande, an executive with NANGO, confirmed yesterday that the meeting had taken place, adding that all EU ambassadors had attended.

"It was feedback on post-Operation Murambatsvina. The ambassadors wanted to get an insight into the whole issue especially the fuss surrounding the commemoration at a time the government is saying it had done something to accommodate the victims. They also wanted to know the number of people still staying in the open and the parameters for assistance," added Ngirande.

Last week the government banned meetings and other activities planned by the country's civil society to mark the first anniversary of the operation, which United Nations Special Envoy Tibaijuka condemned before producing a damning report that incensed the Harare authorities.

Tibaijuka said in her report more than 700 000 people were rendered homeless while about 2,4 million lost their source of livelihood, charges fatly denied by the Zimbabwean authorities.

Government critic John Makumbe, suspected of being behind the Murambatsvina commemoration activities, and church leaders in Bulawayo were warned by police against commemorating the event, which government claims was necessary to flush out trash and stamp out corrupt activities in and around the cities and towns.

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