Chombo orders youth militia to evict MDC supporters from Hopley Farm

By Violet Gonda and T. Karimakwenda
19 October 2005

The minister for Local Government Ignatius Chombo visited Hopley Farm outside Harare on Tuesday and allegedly instructed the youth militia to get rid of anyone there who sympathises with the opposition party. Hopley is one of the camps where the government has dumped families that lost their homes during the demolitions of Operation Murambatsvina. Now many families fear that they will be further victimised by the militia.

A resident at Hopley told us that the militia had already started identifying suspected MDC supporters and intimidating them. They arrived Wednesday morning and are going around arousing fear in these already vulnerable people. The resident we spoke to pleaded for help from the police, fearing that the situation might turn violent.

Chombo told the Hopley residents that some houses had been completed under Operation Garikai, and that 150 families would benefit. But there are at least 1000 people at Hopley in need of housing. Residents interpret Chombo’s statements to mean that the few ZANU-PF supporters would be receive houses under Garikai.

Residents at this desolate camp said the food they get is far from enough. They accuse the government of blocking churches that want to feed them from gaining access.

See how people are living at Hopley Farm