By Violet Gonda
7 July 2005

There was drama at the Mayor's chambers in Bulawayo on Wednesday when 3 ministers were ordered out of a meeting with the UN envoy. The Mayor, Japhet Ndabeni Ncube, wanted to see the envoy in private without interference from cabinet ministers. It's reported that the ministers left with their tails tucked in between their legs with embarrassment.
The three, Sithembiso Nyoni, Cain Mathema and Kembo Mohadi had earlier held a heated meeting with the envoy, at which they were told that she was not impressed with their explanation of the repatriation programme - where thousands of people were forced to go to the rural areas from the urban areas.
Tibaijuka told the ministers that destroying people's homes and sending them to rural areas is not a solution especially when they will face even more poverty and suffering there.
Our Bulawayo correspondent Temba Nkosi said many victims failed to meet the envoy because they were blocked by state agents resulting in the envoy speaking to very few victims at the Holiday Inn.
He said although the majority of the people were not allowed in the conference room, a number of civic leaders and church leaders made it clear to the envoy that the operation was political. She later visited some of the affected townships late Wednesday.
Nkosi said the UN envoy left for Victoria Falls where she is likely to be met by horror as man people in the country's principle resort town are now living in slums as a result of the "clean up operation. "