Appeal: Operation Recovering the Right to Housing in Zimbabwe

Harare, before and after demolitions

We, associations of inhabitants, international networks, voluntary groups, NGOs, public agencies, citizens of the world, are profoundly hurt by and denounce the ‘Murambatsvina operation’ (sweep away the garbage operation) launched by the government of Zimbabwe.

The inhabitants of slum areas in Zimbabwe are not garbage!

The evictions are in fact affecting in full winter conditions:
1,5 million inhabitants forced to become homeless, primarily in Harare, Bulawayo, Victoria Falls, Chitungwiza, Chipinge, Kariba, Chinhoyi, Beitbridge Gwanda, out of a population of around 12 million inhabitants
300,000 children already forced to abandon school
42,000 arrests of people resisting the evictions
tens of people dead, including children, crushed in the demolition operations or in the clashes with the police

The government of Zimbabwe is violating international law: article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in particular General Comments 4 and 7 prohibits evictions without an adequate and agreed relocation; article 14 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women demands that states ensure adequate living conditions in the rural zones; article 27 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child provides a right to adequate housing; articles 7 and 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights prohibit cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment and the arbitrary use of force; articles 7(1)(d) and 7(2)(d) of the Statute of the International Criminal Court establish that forcible transfer of civil populations is a crime against humanity.

Hence, within the Zero evictions campaign, in support of the Joint Declaration launched on 23rd June 2005 by more than 200 associations and African and international networks against Operation Murambatsvina and the Appeal ‘Cancel debt to house the world’s poor’

We forcefully ask
The Government of Zimbabwe to:

• immediately stop the demolitions and evictions
• provide for the relocation of the evicted, and set a plan for the recovery of the slum areas in agreement with the interested communities in accordance with international norms
• guarantee the right to compensation for all the victims of the evictions, including the right of access to justice, restitution, recovery, compensation, amends and a guarantee that these violations will not be repeated again in future

The G8 and States Creditors to Zimbabwe to:

• permit the cancellation of debt only if the freed resources are allocated to the development of housing and urban policies for the poor, in particular that they are directed toward ‘Popular Funds for Land and Housing’ controlled by all the interested parties, including the inhabitants and organised civil society, with clear mechanisms to guarantee transparency
• block all investment in Zimbabwe if the effects of the investment violate international norms on rights.

The United Nations, the African Union and the European Union to take immediate action to:

• publicly condemn Operation Murambatsvina
• supervise the respect of international norms protecting rights even with the sending of a troop of civil volunteers to help and act as mediators
• provide a forum where the Government of Zimbabwe and all the interested parts including the recognised representatives of the inhabitants of the slums, international networks, NGOs and public agencies, can agree on the relocation of persons evicted in a manner agreed with the interested communities
• guarantee security of tenure, the setting up of Popular Funds for Land and Housing, the reform and redistribution of land and access to basic public services.