Garikai houses allocated to ZANU PF members in Murehwa

By Violet Gonda
26 April 2006

Residents in Murehwa North are up in arms at what they say is the partisan allocation of houses built under “Operation Garikai.” Our resident contact Kumbirai said nearly 200 people were affected after the “disastrous” clean up exercise dubbed “Operation Murambatsvina” but only 25 houses have been fully completed.

Kumbirai said what’s most disturbing is that those connected to ZANU PF chefs in the area are benefiting and people who were not affected by the evictions are being given the much needed houses.

Our source said Mrs Mhondiwa, the ZANU PF district chairperson for the Women’s League, was given a house although she is said to own a house near the township including a stand of her own in the area. Other undeserving ZANU PF beneficiaries are said to be Mr Mashava the Murehwa District Co-ordinator for ward 30 who allegedly owns two stands and Nyasha Chikurune a member of the District Coordinating Committee who is reported to have been living in a government house for civil servants during the Murambatsvina evictions last year.

Kumbirai said these people are some of the ruling party members who were allocated the two-roomed houses which were handed over at a ceremony that was attended by senior government officials including the MP for that area, David Parirenyatwa.

Our contact said the plight of the homeless Murambatsvina victims in Murehwa is very sad especially as winter approaches. Many have built temporary shelter from the rubble of their former houses while others have been forced to go and live in remote rural areas.

Efforts to get a comment from David Parirenyatwa the MP for Murehwa North were unsuccessful.