High court blocks eviction of displaced squatters from open spaces

By Tererai Karimakwenda
11 October 2005

On Monday, the High Court in Harare ruled in favour of some families who were displaced by the government’s Operation Murambatsvina, by granting a provisional order barring their eviction from open spaces in the Mbare suburb of Harare. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights report that they were approached by 252 squatters who said they had been ordered by the police to leave their makeshift shelters by Friday. On behalf of these families, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights sued the commissioner of police, the ministry of Home Affairs and the City of Harare. The High Court order was obtained with the consent of state lawyers, meaning the squatters are safe for now. The City of Harare said it never threatened them with eviction.

It is ironic that these families, which are now squatting, had decent homes until the demolition of their houses under Operation Murambatsvina in May. Now the same government was attempting to evict them from the makeshift homes they put together for protection from the cold winter. The open spaces are Mbare Musika and the Joburg lines. There is also a squatter camp at the #5 football grounds.

The government has promised to build new houses over the next few years, and the squatters plan to file for permission to stay until they are provided such housing. So far no real construction has taken place as it becomes clear the government ‘reconstruction’ plan is nothing more than a PR exercise. It could therefore be a long time before these families move away from the growing squatter camps. Government critics have maintained that the demolitions were done to punish people for supporting the opposition.