HARARE - The 52 squatters from Harares Borrowdale suburb, whose shacks were burnt down by the police last week, say they have been ordered not to speak to the media about the destruction of their homes or face severe punishment. The squatters, who are staying in the open since their release from police cells, say they were warned they would be beaten up should they ever give interviews to reporters about the burning of the camp near Borrowdale racecourse.
Please do not write anything about us because the police said they will beat us up (if the matter is reported in the papers), one woman at the settlement told Radio VOP.
Another squatter, an elderly looking woman, said, the police do not want anyone to know about what is happening here. They said they will come at night and deal with us. We are all afraid here. Armed police last Wednesday burnt down the squatter camp and arrested 55 people including five minor children who were living at the illegal settlement.
The squatters were detained at Harare Central Police Station for 15 hours before they were freed. But the police are still holding three of the squatters in connection with some unspecified crimes. ??The Borrowdale squatters lost clothes and household property when their dwellings were set on fire by police, in an attack reminiscent of the brutal Operation Murambatsvina five years ago.
At least 700 000 people were left homeless in 2005 after their backyard shacks and informal businesses were destroyed by the police in an operation that was roundly condemned by the international community.A special United Nations envoy, Anna Tibaijuka, sent to probe the home demolitions issued a damning report saying Operation Murambatsvina (Drive out Filth) violated the rights of poor people.
Tibaijuka contested President Robert Mugabes claims that Murambatsvina was merely a slum clearing operation saying in her report that the campaign appeared aimed at emptying the shanty settlements of support for then opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
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