Demolitions 'aluta continua'

By Lance Guma
19 July 2005.

Barely three days after announcing a temporary suspension of demolitions in the cities, an office block in the Kopje area of Harare was destroyed. According to Zimonline, the office complex at the corner of Speke Avenue and Luck Street was mainly used by general dealers in spare parts, coffins and wooden furniture. The government had earlier said it would give residents and businesses 10 days in which to 'regularise their structures. There was even talk they were easing down the operation to appease the South African government from whom they are reported to be asking for a billion US dollar rescue package.

The police at the site are said to have told reporters they did not take instructions from newspapers, an apparent reference to the Herald article announcing the suspension of demolitions. They also said they had strict orders to demolish the building which allegedly harboured foreigners involved in shady deals. Armed police details used bulldozers to bring the property down as helpless tenants watched in horror.
Daily News Journalist Precious Shumba, says government is trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the international community. Authorities announced a suspension of the demolitions but are secretly continuing with the operation. He says the same tactic was used when the UN envoy Anna Tibaijuka visited Zimbabwe. Most rural buses were diverted to the urban areas to ease the transport shortage and give a picture of normalcy to the visiting envoy when the truth was that the country had a crippling transport crisis.

Meanwhile in Bulawayo, residents who had been given sanctuary by churches there following the destruction of their homes, have been moved to a holding camp in Helensvale Farm, 20 km outside the city. The churches had resisted the move until such time adequate amenities like tents, toilets and clean water were available. It is reported they are now happy with the new conditions at the farm but will remain in charge of the welfare of the displaced residents in the meantime.

Its being alleged in several reports that government is using armed police details to seal off the holding camps in an attempt to block the flow of information about the conditions there.