Operation Garikai a scam as thousands remain homeless in Harare

By Violet Gonda
19 September 2005

A major humanitarian crisis is looming in Harare as thousands of victims of Operation Murambatsvina are still living rough, 2 months after the controversial clean up exercise ended. Mike Davies, chairman of the Combined Harare Residents’ Association, said areas that were OK before the operation now resemble typical squatter slums with plastic temporary accommodation.

The rainy season starts in October and tens of thousands of people will not have accommodation, raising more doubts about the government’s housing programme, Operation Garikai. Davies said, “Operation Garikai is a scam as very few houses have been built and large numbers of people are living in the ruins of their former houses, only protected by plastic.”

He said human rights groups still have difficulties accessing Hopely Farm, a transit camp just outside Harare. Thousands of victims are languishing there with no food or proper shelter. The outspoken activist lashed out at the Mugabe regime saying it continues to disrespect citizens, ignoring their basic dignity as human beings.

The situation in Harare reflects the whole country. This is a man-made disaster that has also left the country with shortages of every basic commodity. From food to fuel, seeds to fertiliser and acute shortages of forex. The government admitted last week that it only had three weeks left of food and the fuel situation has reached dangerous levels. It is so bad in Harare that there is just enough petrol to keep one fire engine running. Ambulances are seen queuing outside dry petrol stations.

Prison officers have been unable to drive prisoners to court and thousands of buses lie idle. A serious health hazard is looming as very few areas have had refuse collection, water or electricity.

Mike Davies believes there cannot be a solution if there is an undemocratic government in charge, either on a national level or local level. He said money is available including foreign currency but it’s a question of how this money is being allocated and what priorities are being made in the allocation of resources. He said while the emergency services have no fuel it’s alleged that the chairman of the Harare Commission, Sekesai Makwavarara, is awaiting a US$27,000 allocation from the Reserve Bank for an official visit to Russia. He said it’s things like this that add to the reasons why CHRA is trying to get rid of the Makwavarara led council, although the court has delayed the ruling on this court application.

Davies believes there is no chance that the situation will change unless there is an elected council that is involved in dialogue with the residents.