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Operation Restore Order two years down the line: A day's experience
New Hope Zimbabwe
May 21, 2007

View the Operation Murambatsvina Index of Articles

To many Zimbabweans operation "Murambatsvina/Restore Order" is remembered as the most challenging policy ever to be implemented in the country. Following the implementation of this policy most people were left vulnerable both socially and economically. However, two years after the operation, people are still finding it difficult to make ends meet. One of the areas where victims of the operation are living is Epworth, specifically the Balancing rocks or Komboniyatsva. With Elections coming next year politicians will now come to the same people to ask for votes with promises of being resettled after they win, violence against women and children will be the talk of the day in these areas.

On the 18th of May 2007 the day we commemorate Operation Muramabatsvina at our Organisation, NHF staff members visited Balancing rocks area were after two years 200 families still live outside without proper shelter, we take this time to remind our fellow Zimbabweans of their rights especially the right to shelter, we revisit the day when without notice bulldozers racked what used to their home to trash, a time when a brother stand up and fight another brother and blame the results on their distant neighbour.

On arrival we were welcomed by a pathetic situation. Small plastic and bricked huts, 2 meters high, habited by a family of 3 to 4 people on average. These small houses were surrounded by a small field of land with few drying and unhealthy maize crop. There was not even a single ablution facility. Such was the situation that welcomed the NHF team with profound hospitality. However, we proceeded with our program. Upon arrival at the grounds very few people had gathered, we then organized a warm up football match.

As the day progressed many people started to flock to the grounds and we started the day's program. Mr Murepa our Operations Manager gave the welcome remarks and introductions. NHF staff members were introduced to the community. Mr Murepa then passed the button stick to the C.E.O pastor Elfas Zadzagomo. The C.E.O, like a politician manipulated the gathering. He sensitized the community on Gender issues focusing mainly on the domestic violence law/act, Women and children's rights. He also emphasized that people should live in harmony and liberally.

His speech was then proceeded by a drama which was performed by a group of women from the community. The drama entitled "AIDS nokuparara kwemhuri", addressed a number of thematic areas, gender disparities, child abuse, HIV/AIDS, poverty, prostitution etc. In this play a girl child is forced to marry a wealthy man of the community so that she could save her family from the plight of poverty and hunger. In the first instance when the father of the girl mentioned the issue of marrying their daughter, the mother bitterly demurred with this idea as she wanted the girl to continue with education but she unwillingly gave in due to the crisis that was in the household.

The rich man in the story unfortunately happened to be a womanizer. The girl later died of AIDS, and within a few months, "amaiguru", the rich man's first wife also died. Shortly after, the rich man died. The play gave a context in which man act irresponsibly and spread the virus to their innocent wives and also brings to book the issue of children who are left at the mercy of the world after the strike of the pandemic.

As per our program, we then played a soccer match for 15minutes. The match was exciting as both teams were mixed. Women were playing soccer mingling with their male counterparts We use this as a way of addressing Gender issues, Each individual family is like a soccer team were proper planning to defend and attack are a must, both men and women must work together for the betterment of their lives so life is like a football match all of us must have say ,some are supporters,some are coaches. Some are referees, while some are players on this match. Both teams made a number of chances. The community team was the winner in this match after they scored 2goals past Our C.E.O Pastor Zadzagomo who was in goals for NHF team. The NHF team managed to score 1 goal courtesy of a blunter by the community's team goal keeper. The second part was unique, if a woman gets the ball she would play netball, on the other side man would play soccer in the same match.

New Hope Foundation uses sporting a way of addressing social issues to communities and such sporting activities are held once per month in our operational areas.

Pastor Zadzagomo then gave the end of day remarks and thanked the community. He promised them a netball ball as acknowledgement for winning the match. Mr Mtisika, one of our board members who had accompanied us, also expressed his gratitude to the people for the way they had expressed themselves. He noted that though the economic situation is hard and difficult for everyone, the people never showed this and instead they had worn the friendliest faces he had ever seen.

We departed around 1500hrs and progressed to a nearby area popularly known as 'Ten families' a name coiled by one of our staff members Joshua Mahachi. Upon arrival our staff members were shocked with what they saw. It was as if they were watching a horror movie. The situation was unbelievable; it was like a war-torn place, deserted for a thousand years ago, torn-plastic huts, no toilets, naked kids playing outside.

Those with soft hearts started sobbing at the situation at the sight as they could not believe that such huts were someone habitat as it was not fit to house an animal. The seven families are in the jaws of poverty, languishing and lamenting in the harsh climatic conditions and living at the mercy of the approaching winter season.
However the C.E.O came to their help by suggesting that the organisation will do as much as they can in soliciting for blankets and new plastics for the families.

We then came back to our offices were we had a surprise party for Mr Mtiska who was living for the UK that same night. After wining and dinning, some of our staff members joined him to the airport while others went home. It was everyone's wish to have taken him to the airport, but due to limited carrying capacity of our vehicle, "BONGO" it was suggested that a few would go to the airport while others went to their respective homes.

Report Compiled by: Noel "Chief" Mushangwe Monitoring & and Evaluation Officer NHF

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