The State against Zimbabweans?

The displaced Zimbabweans have suffered greatly in the last week, with people sleeping in the open because government claims to have no space to pitch tents donated to them. People have been told that food provisions will be removed shortly; toilets are locked and are apparently being taken away. The UNHCR and government officials have been denying access to many people who have been displaced; the government can be seen shouting the camp is full to the desperate displaced Zimbabweans.

The residents are being told the camp is going to be shut this week. While the community remains up in arms about the arrest of the accused South Africans there is no really option of reintegration. The general attitude is that the issue must be swept under the carpet.

It is disturbing how the UNHCR and government distribute reports claiming great progress and that basically lie about the situation. The government and the UNHCR are threatening and neglecting the Zimbabweans, while failing to respect the basic laws pertaining to freedom of movement, freedom of association, eviction and protection. Indeed one can accuse the local and provincial government authorities of deliberately ignoring their plight in an attempt to deny the displaced their rights.

I can honestly say that their behaviour is in line with the abuse I have seen in Zimbabwe by the Mugabe regime, with residents being threatened with NIA (National Intelligence Agency) by low level government officials and so called Displaced persons leadership. It is however unlawful and the law can be used to obtain justice and we hope that we, and the Zimbabweans are able to take the necessary legal actions. Let us in this newspaper, that allows our voices to be heard, make clear that we will not allow the so called inconvenient truth be ignored- displaced Zimbabweans are also entitled to human rights.