The Zimbabwean government is mobilising soldiers to build houses for the thousands of people it forced from their homes in an urban clean up campaign that has drawn condemnation at home and abroad, a spokesperson said on Thursday.
The announcement comes as Zimbabwe prepares for the visit of a special United Nations envoy coming to see the impact of Operation Murambatsvina, or Drive Out Trash, which the UN estimates has left up to 1,5-million people homeless. The political opposition, which has its base among the urban poor, says the four-week-old campaign is meant to punish its supporters.
After a seven hour meeting of President Robert Mugabe’s highest policy-making body, the Politburo, spokesperson Ephraim Masawi was quoted on state radio on Thursday as saying military personnel will lead national and provincial reconstruction committees being formed immediately.
Masawi said there would be ”building brigades in all 10 provinces for reconstruction of houses, shops and flea markets”, to replace those flattened since May 19, when police launched their blitz first on the capital’s street traders, then on ”informal housing”.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change says only supporters of Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF are getting new housing sites and trading licenses.
Answering questions on Wednesday during a stormy parliamentary session Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa conceded harm had been done to legitimate housing by what he called a ”clean up” meant to flush out black marketeers and criminals.
The government blames them for runaway 144% hyperinflation and shortage of most staples.
”We are aware that there is damage, people are homeless and so forth,” the minister said.
”We are aware and accept that the dislocation has affected the immediate interests of the people, but [the] government has put into place the necessary logistics to address those immediate concerns such as health.”
Since starting May 19 in Harare, the operation has been extended throughout the country, causing sporadic rioting as people tried to resist destruction of their livelihoods and eviction into midwinter cold.
This week, the campaign in a nation facing severe food shortages moved on to the vegetable gardens the poor plant in vacant lots around Harare. Police say the plots threaten the environment.
Edmore Veterai, commander of the capital’s police, was quoted in the state-owned Herald newspaper on Thursday advising city dwellers, 80% of whom lack formal employment, to ”plant flowers and lawns instead”.
Senior assistant police commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena told the Herald that 42 415 people were arrested, fined or had their goods confiscated since the start of the operation, while he estimated the number left homeless at 120 000 — far short of the 250 000 to 1,5-million estimate other observers have given.
While Zimbabwe clerics have called the operation ”a crime against humanity” and ”a war against the poor,” government loyalists defend it. Vincent Takure, chairperson of the Association of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, was quoted by the state broadcaster on Thursday as applauding ”government efforts to reorganise the informal sector.”
Takure said it would give bankers confidence in small-scale businessmen and help them create employment.
Police on Wednesday closed seven office high rise buildings in downtown Harare, evicting photocopying and other small businesses they said were causing overcrowding and strain on sanitation facilities.
Robert Chamunorwa, president of the Commercial Tenants’ Association, told the state broadcaster he welcomed police removal of firms operating illegally from offices and workshops in up-market neighborhoods, but he urged rent boards to impose strict controls.
Detainees on hunger strike
Meanwhile, a number of Zimbabwean detainees in Britain are believed to have begun a 72-hour hunger strike in protest at the continuing removal of failed asylum seekers to that country.
The detainees, held in seven detention centres across the United Kingdom, refused breakfast on Wednesday and say that they will refuse all further meals until Saturday morning.
They say they are also demonstrating against conditions in the centres. Their complaints include allegations of verbal and physical abuse by staff.
The detention centres involved in the protest are Harmondsworth, Tynsley House, Haslar, Lindholme, Colnbrook, Dungarvel and Yarls Wood.
The exact number of protesters is not known, but speaking from Yarls Wood centre, a 24-year-old Zimbabwean woman said that at least nine women in the female section of the centre were taking part in the protest.
A British home office spokesperson said: ”We strongly dispute the figure of there being 200 people on hunger strike in the detention estate.” – Guardian Unlimited Â