Shocking arrests over burial at Hopley Farm

By Tererai Karimakwenda
18 January 2007

Residents at the Hopley Farm squatter camp were shocked recently when police arrested twp men who buried their friend, after waiting more than 10 days for the police to respond. Dzimbabwe Chimbwa, a legal practitioner with the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights who is representing them, told us that an ailing resident died at Hopley on December 22 after failing to get any medical attention. The police were notified immediately but failed to issue a death certificate. Chimbwa said his clients waited more than 10 days while the body of their deceased friend lay unattended in a hut. When they decided to bury him the corpse had already started to decompose. The police then took action by arresting the pair, and they have indicated they will be taking the case to court.

Although no specific charges have been filed, Chimbwa said the police will most likely attempt to charge them with conducting a burial without permission or documents from the proper authority. This despite the fact that police at Waterfalls and at Hatcliffe were notified many days before the burial. It is now up to the police to notify the lawyer of their next move.

There was more bad news for residents at Hopley, who are reported to be living in squalor. The Financial Gazette newspaper reported this week that the illegal commission running the city of Harare has turned down an offer by the United Nations to fund the building of more temporary housing for them. The report said more homeless people have been turning up at Hopley since the rainy season started. It is not clear why the commission led by Sekesai Makwavarara would decline such an offer when residents are living in plastic shacks that are easily blown apart by heavy rain. But they did accept assistance building new schools and clinics. Observers and human rights activists believe the government has been punishing these people who were displaced by the so-called “cleanup operation” Murambatsvina, because they are seen as supporters of the opposition MDC.

Chimbwa said the accommodation at Hopley is not up to any standard. He told us there are no proper sanitation facilities and no clean running water. Overcrowding has become a serious problem as more homeless families arrive. Chimbwa estimates there are a few thousand people living in the very small area.