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An Analysis of the Demolitions in Zimbabwe

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An Analysis of the Demolitions in Zimbabwe An Analysis of the Demolitions in Zimbabwe Editors: Wole Olaleye & Ozias Tungwarara Editors: Wole Olaleye & Ozias Tungwarara Photographs: Desmond Kwande Copy Editing and Proofreading: Laureen Bertin Tel: +27 11 640 2882 Cover Design: Into The Limelight Tel: +27 11 486 4910 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements & Contributors iv 1. Executive Summary 1 2. Introduction 5 3. The Political Economy of Demolition 7 4. The Spirit and Purpose of Urban Planning: The Physical Displacement of the Informal Sector in Zimbabwe 19 5. A Rights and Legal Perspective 29 6. Sectoral Impact of Operation Murambatsvina/Restore Order 39 Health 39 Media 41 Women and Girls 45 The Urban Land and Housing Question 52 Economic Impacts 61 7. References 67 APPENDIX ONE 69 A Study on the Impact of “Operation Murambatsvina/Restore Order” in 26 Wards of Harare High Density Housing Areas iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Sam Moyo, Tendai Murisa, Eddah Jowah and Grace Chenesai Vela: The Urban Land and Housing Question: Social Reproduction and Order (The context and implications of ActionAid International - Southern Africa Partnership Programme ‘Operation Restore Order’) (SAPP-Zimbabwe) is indebted to the Open Society Initiative for Zivanayi Manyika: The Spirit And Purpose Of Urban Planning: A Southern Africa (OSISA) for its intellectual and conceptual Perspective On “Operation Murambatsvina” - The Physical contributions to this publication. SAPP Zimbabwe acknowledges Displacement Of The Informal Sector In Zimbawe with gratitude the following individuals for providing the analysis used in compiling this report: Takura Zhangazha, Godfrey Nancy Kachingwe: Policy and planning as if women mattered Kanyenze, Mlamleli Sibanda, Douglas Gwatidzo, Catherine Deprose Muchena: “Burning down the house to kill a rat” : The Makoni, Professor Sam Moyo, Tendai Murisa, Eddah Jowah, Political Economy of “Operation Murambatsvina” and the Brace Chenesai Vela, Stanlake Kaziboni, Nancy Kachingwe, emerging challenges of Governance Deprose Muchena, Elijah Chiwota and Zvidzai Maburutse. The Elijah Chiwota: Anger over operation ‘Reject Filth’ report also benefited from comments from colleagues Caroline Sande, Brain Kagoro, Ian Mashingaidze, David Mwaniki, Mono Copyright ActionAid International Masoka, Isabella Matambanadzo (OSISA), and Pippa Armerding. Johannesburg, South Africa ActionAid International - Southern Africa Partnership Programme joins in solidarity with the many thousands of people August 2005 who lost their livelihoods, dignity and security as a result of the operation. Their courage in the face of diversity is a challenge that the world cannot afford to remain silent about, but must join hands to act in urgency and solidarity with those affected. List of People / Organisations Involved in the Compilation of Analysis Papers Takura Zhangazha: The Media within the Context of the Government of Zimbabwe’s Operation ‘Clean Up. Godfrey Kanyenze and Mlamleli Sibanda: The Economic Impact Of The Clampdown On The Informal Economy, Code Named Operation Restore Order / Murambatsvina Douglas Gwatidzo: Operation “Murambatsvina” Restore Order. The public health perspective Zvidzai Maburutse: Human Security: The way of ensuring poor and excluded people’s right are protected and secured during conflict and emergencies: A Zimbabwe case study - Action Aid Catherine Makoni: Operation Murambatsvina from a Rights and Legal Perspective - Action Aid Chapter 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Massive demolitions of informal housing and informal sector delivery; a chronic shortage of foreign currency, fuel and many sites, including markets and production areas, were and continue other imports necessary for manufacturing, mining, commerce to be carried out at the direction of the government of Zimbabwe and agriculture; capital flight, withdrawal of official development in all urban areas of the country under the code names assistance and the drying up of foreign investment, resulting in “Operation Murambatsvina” (“throw out the trash”) and the rapid shrinking of the economy; and soaring unemployment “Operation Restore Order” (together, Operation Murambatsvina/ currently estimated to be higher than 75%, which contributes to Restore Order). It is estimated that close to a million people have an already unfortunate and unacceptable level of poverty, with been seriously affected with many rendered destitute overnight. more than 70% of the population living below the poverty line. They are now without shelter and sources of income. The capital It is estimated that over 700 000 people have lost their homes, city of Harare, perceived by many to have been the real target of sources of livelihood and dignity as a result of the operation. this operation, was hardest hit. Thousands of those displaced are Most affected are women and girls, including households with presently in a holding camp at Caledonia Farm; some are in orphans, chronically ill persons, female-headed households, and overcrowded prisons; others have shifted to rural areas; while elderly headed households. still many others are staying out in the open near rivers or This report is a collection of articles divided into four sections streams. A fortunate few have found shelter with friends and which discuss and analyze Operation Murambatsvina/Restore relatives or have been squeezed into institutional housing. Order in the context of the political economy of Zimbabwe and Operation Murambatsvina/Restore Order which started in emerging challenges of governance; the purpose and spirit of May 2005 took place against the background of a breakdown of urban planning; the rights effected and legal issues raised; and the rule of law resulting in many cases of human rights abuse finally, the impact of this operation on various sectors of and denial of access to justice for the victims; promotion of the Zimbabwean society as well as media response to the political culture of fear and the negation of democratic values government’s actions. In addition, the report provides in and norms; humanitarian disasters of various kinds such as Appendix One, certain empirical evidence of how the operation displacement of more than six thousand people from their rural has affected the population on a household and a community homes during the 2000 election campaign and well over 70 000 level in twenty-six wards of Harare High Density Housing Areas. during and after the presidential election in 2002; the collapse The various analyses presented here were commissioned in of the social sector with health and educational institutions response to what was increasingly becoming an impressionistic failing to measure up to the expected standards of service and anecdotal discussion about the reasons behind Operation Murambatsvina/Restore Order and its impact, especially on and gives a background of informal sector growth in Zimbabwe ordinary citizens. Issues examined include the historical and from pre-independence to the present day. The legal procedure political context, rights and legal perspectives, impact on women provided for by the RTCP with respect to treatment of non- and girls, social reproduction and order in relation to urban land compliant structures built in urban areas is outlined and and housing, urban planning, the role of the media, economic government action in Operation Murambatsvina/Restore Order is implications, public health and human security dimensions. The evaluated against such requirements. The article describes the papers confirm the reaction of most Zimbabweans, and members demolition process and how it was carried out as well as the of the regional and international communities – a sense of devastating effect it has had on urban communities. In addition, shock and awe at the magnitude and rapidity of destruction and an analysis is made of what really prompted government to dislocation. Although the articles address different perspectives demolish and destroy the informal sector and what could have they are all unanimous in concluding that the operations were been done to avoid such an outcome. The article concludes that unjustified and resulted in severe suffering for the ordinary Operation Murambatsvina/Restore Order was not carried out in citizen that far outweighs, and is completely disproportionate to, compliance with either the spirit or the letter of the municipal the intended benefits. regulations relied upon by the Zimbabwean government as the The first section provides a background to the crisis by basis for their actions. Further, the article encourages the discussing the colonial roots of the government’s attempt to displaced to organize themselves into relevant interest groups in control urban populations, destroy their means of economic order to better voice their concerns, become trained and informed support and remove them to rural areas. It also discusses the of their rights and continue to be the target of humanitarian country’s economic crisis, foreign currency shortages, widespread assistance. Finally, the article calls for pressure to be placed on poverty and inequality, deepening crisis of governance and local and central government to respect the human rights of the attack by the ruling ZANU-PF government on the rule of law. displaced, take a process driven approach to achieving The government of Zimbabwe’s stated reasons for the operations sustainable economic development and amend the RTCP to are analyzed and assessed from an economic and political properly ensure protection of human rights and avoid the perspective and possible alternative reasons for
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