Bishop condemns evictions
Peter | 15.06.2005 10:51
The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Harare has condemned the Zimbabwean government's policy of demolishing thousands of homes and businesses.
"The way the exercise was carried out was inhuman"
Speaking to the BBC, Archbishop Robert Ndlovu described the move as "inhuman". President Robert Mugabe's government says the houses and markets being demolished in the capital are illegal. But the opposition has accused the authorities of punishing the urban poor who voted against the ruling Zanu PF party in elections earlier this year. The UN says some 200,000 Zimbabweans have been made homeless in the two-week clearance operation carried out by police. Police say the demolitions are part of an operation to deal with illegal activities across the country. Some 30,000 people have been arrested. Archbishop Ndlovu told BBC radio that both opposition and government supporters were suffering from the demolitions. "The way the exercise was carried out was inhuman," he added. "Bearing in mind this is the winter season in Zimbabwe, we felt that it was really inconsiderate. Now people are sleeping in the open - there are small children there." When the operation began last month police said those evicted would be taken to alternative accommodation. But an MP for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change in Harare said people had nowhere to go. The UN has demanded that Mr Mugabe stop the eviction operation, which it describes as a new form of "apartheid". Zanu PF won two thirds of the votes in a general election in March which the opposition says was rigged.
Peter
Comments
Hide the following comment
Churches respond to humanitarian Crisis
15.06.2005 16:28
The Roman Catholic Parish in Tafara has never been this crowded. Various assortments of furniture and clothing lie closely packed inside the yard, with their owners perched at varying points, either on the bed, on top of suitcases or leaning on the clothing cabinet. Three nights ago these people were proud workers and dwellers of the sprawling township. Two days ago they developed blisters as they crushed the houses that resembled their castles. Today they hold clenched fists against their jaws, a sign of dispair.
The Church has taken to providing transport to the families to go to the rural areas. " The church has been merciful," we hear someone say. One would agree, the residents do not have to sell their furniture to get busfare to transport their family home. They are being taken to the rural areas free of charge.
The church has managed to transport thirty three families to date. It is a mammoth task considering they have only one lorry and can afford to take one load per day. Ques of people registering with the church clerk have turned almost into a mob, and the dreaded Criminal Investigating department officials are hovering over proceedings with a vengeance, ready to incarcerate anyone who dare take a photo of the dispair in the eyes of the defenceless people in Mabvuku.
We turn to follow the truck on its way out in frustration. My sole ambition is to take a good photo, to tell the world that "the man made tsunami" as it has been labelled by the people, is a far cry from the nefarious incarntations of "order, order, order everywhere belched by the state sponsored news reporter, Reuben Barwe. On our way my sole fear is that the police will pounce on our vehicle and arrest us. Memories of the two hour torture i suffered at the hands of youth militia on 13 January 2003 for precisely the same reason, taking photographs of state rot and inhumanity, create a nauseating deja vu.
I smile when the families packed at the end of the truck see what i am doing and pose for the camera. They smile at their circumstance and accept the situation. They smile at the camera and appear to be telling the world that we are people, and we will overcome.
Elsewhere other churches are providing recourse to the downtrodden. The United Methodist Church under the watchful eye of Reverend Gaga is providing transport to residents who have homes along Mutare Road and Mutoko Road in the rural areas. Anyone can come in. So far, the church is bursting to its seems with 28 families. More will surely come.
There are other evangelists who felt the Operation Murambatsvina was skewed and unGodly. These include the flamboyant minister, Rev. Obadiah Musindo of the Destiny for Africa Ministries. State television quoted him as saying that he was averse to the operation, but thanks to the goodness of the lord, state personnel took him for 'education'. He now knows government means well.
People cring at the hypocrisy of such expressions and shudder to think of the impact this has on his flock. Residents must not deaden their conscience in the wake of this disaster. Government must reconsider; people are losing their lives, people are being displaced, people are losing the very essence of their being.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Combined Harare Residents Association
Box HR7870
Harare
011612860
www.chra.co.zw
Jameson Gadzirai