Operation Murambatsvina- victims still crying for a decent living

In 2005, the Zanu (PF) government carried out a clean-up exercise that saw the destruction of illegal structures in the high density suburbs of various Zimbabwean cities. Everyone was made to be accountable for his or her unplanned structure.

In order to compensate victims of this operation condemned by the international community as ‘inhumane”, the President Robert Mugabe government embarked on Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle housing scheme.

But residents of Mutare said this housing scheme reminded them of the scars of what happened to them five years ago because their lives had not changed for the better.

Two hundred people here were allocated the houses in March 2006. The majority of them, known Zanu (PF) sympathisers who included war veterans and selected civil servants aligned to the party.

The houses comprise two tiny rooms. Most live in cramped conditions because they have large families.

In one household, visited by The Zimbabwean On Sunday, a family of six comprising of father, mother and four children share the two rooms. The bedroom is demarcated by a curtain with the parents sleeping on one end and one of their children sleeping on the other. The rest of the children sleep in the familys tiny kitchen.

We feel that we have been thrown away, said Victor Mandikonza.They (Zanu PF) have thrown us into hell. So what was the idea behind the establishment of the housing scheme, as we are still living a worse off life than the one we used to live before the operation?

The area lacks basic services such as water and sewage systems, posing a health hazard to the occupants who have to use the nearby bush to relieve themselves. They also use the nearby Sakubva River to do their laundry and to bath.

Our major worry here is water, water, water. At times, we gather the courage to beg for water from nearby residents in Chikanga, noted Tawanda Chari. Yes, at times some of them embrace our plight and allow us to have the water but on many occasions, we are turned away.

The nearest clinic is in Sakubva, which is about 5km away. The health authorities at the Mutare City Council health department say they receive constant visits by the residents seeking treatment for waterborne diseases such as cholera.

The residents are also exposed to danger of being mugged as the area does not have a proper road network and public lighting. There have been cases of muggings in the area especially during night time with mostly males coming from the nearby bottle store that is about 1km, becoming major targets. Most victims have been mugged in the bushy area near the Sakubva River.

The area has no schools, forcing children to walk to primary and secondary schools in the nearby Sakubva high density suburb, which is about 5km from the area.

Most parents find it difficult to pay school fees and to buy uniforms because they are unemployed, resulting in some of the children dropping out of school.

Several residents are unemployed youth from Zanu (PF) who were promised jobs after embarking on massive political violence during the 2005 Presidential elections. They survive by buying and selling goods, while most of them have embarked on cross border trading. Others sell cellphone juice cards.

Residents use firewood and paraffin stoves for their cooking. As a result of this, there have been rampant cases of deforestation in the area, with the forest adjacent to the Garikai houses almost wiped out of all the trees.

“Very few of us use paraffin stoves because it is very expensive to us. A bottle of 750ml of paraffin costs US$1 and we use it for just two days only. As you can see there is no any firewood left in the area.

We are now relying on firewood from vendors from the villages surrounding us, said Lynette Mamvura.

I used to stay in Sakubva in a backyard shack and when I was told that I will get a house at Garikai, I thought my life would change. But, I have realised that it has gone worse, lamented Samson Madari. In Sakubva there was water, toilets and electricity. But here there is nothing. I do not see why we came here.

If there is one lesson to be learned from the people of Garikai, it is our ability to co-exist in spite of the squalid conditions in which we are living in. This is not what we were promised, said Farai Mazumba another resident.

He said they were promised good standard houses and jobs that they would live decent lives.

We have formed a development committee and it has been visiting the offices at the Ministry of Public Works so that they can lay some pipes for water and sewer reticulation, but nothing positive has come up. We have all lost hope, added Mazumba.

The Ministry of Public Works under the previous Mugabe led government was responsible for setting up sewer and water reticulation services at similar housing schemes throughout the country.

The residents also approached the Mutare City council to come to their rescue to improve the health delivery system in the area.

Mutare City Council Chamber Secretary, Gloria Muneta, confirmed there had been requests from the residents for assistance in various meetings and workshops.

The whole process was a government thing. The Ministry of Public Works was responsible for infrastructural development in that area because it was state land, the council had nothing to do with it, she said.

The council has now set up a team involving the residents and the Ministry, where the council is now assisting the people with technical expertise in establishing the water and sewer reticulation pipes.

But, there has been nothing written or formalised to let the council to completely take over the water and reticulation services. As council we are only giving them the technical expertise in order to improve the health delivery system, she said.

Our development committee is spearheading the laying of the reticulation pipes. We are currently approaching some private partners to work out a plan to set up the pipes. However, there are no private partners that have come up so far. The council is ready to work with us as it said it will provide all the technical expertise, said Mazumba.