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Solidarity with victims of Operation Murambatsvina
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
May 21, 2007

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THE 18th of May brings back sad memories of how the government of Zimbabwe systematically rendered at least 700 000 of its citizens homeless. The informal sector which had become a source of livelihood for many in a country which had over 80% of its potential labor force unemployed was not spared by the operation. Many small to medium enterprises were destroyed as army trucks, earth moving machines and bulldozers were driven into the high density areas, ostensibly, to rid the country of filth in an operation codenamed Murambatsvina (Restore Order).

As the effects of Murambatsvina continue to bite, women and children are amongst the hardest hit. The access to anti-retroviral drugs and the home-based care programmes were disrupted due to displacement caused by Murambatsvina. For them this was a death sentence leading to many deaths which could have been avoided, had it not been for an insensitive regime, which cared not for the welfare of people but for the consolidation and retention of political power, through brutality unexpected from a government that is already failing to provide anti-retroviral therapy to its people, and faced with a plunging economy but claims to have its people at heart.

Murambatsvina 2 Years On!

As we take stock of Operation Murambatsvina 2 years down the line, we are confronted with the reality of whole families (father, mother and children, some of whom are in their teens) living in a single makeshift plastic shack along Mukuvisi River, stripping them of their human dignity, and exposing them not only to cholera and other health hazards but also to a life worse than they led in the concrete and brick structures they were living in before the operation.

Promises by the government to build alternative shelter for affected people in another operation code-named Garikayi Hlalani Kuhle have come to naught, as only under 5000 homesteads have been built to replace over 90 000 homesteads that were destroyed. The few that were built remain unserviced with no ablution facilities but also largely available only to card carrying members of the ruling ZANU PF party. Operation Garikayi has since proved to be nothing more than a public relations stunt and a poor attempt at covering what is now increasingly being called, together with rampant human rights violations.

Furthermore, none of the recommendations by Dr Anna Tibaijuka's, the UN Special Envoy have been implemented, after the government dismissed her as a conduit of the West.

We Remember

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition this year, as it did last year, commemorate, with its members and partners, Operation Murambatsvina over 8 weeks, to among other objectives:

• Remind the Government that we remember the operation for the loss of livelihood it precipitated for the majority poor.
• Let the world know that more people's lives have continued to be destroyed as a direct result of Operation Murambatsvina. The commemoration will also save to remind each other of the fact that those who orchestrated the operation, have not been brought to account for their heinous acts, and that the full course of justice has not yet been taken.

The Coalition calls upon the international community, particularly the United Nations, Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union to reign in on the government of Zimbabwe known for instigating gross human rights abuses. We urge the Zimbabwe government to implement the recommendations of the report of the UN Special Envoy Dr Tibaijuka and to compensate the victims of Operation Murambatsvina.

Macdonald Lewanika
Spokesperson
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition

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