The United Kingdom-based group has announced that Zimbabwe human rights organisations would benefit from the more than £700 000 it received from its subsidiary in Switzerland.
In particular, the international human rights watchdog spoke out against the prevalence of forced evictions across the African continent.
Last week it petitioned the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights 50th Ordinary Session in Banjul, Gambia citing Zimbabwe as one of the countries whose people had borne the brunt of such human rights violations.
It raised concern that more than six years after Zimbabwe embarked on mass evictions, nothing had been done to remedy the problems faced by victims of the project.
“Over the years Amnesty International has documented cases of mass forced evictions in Angola, Chad, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Governments across Africa have acted in violation of regional and international human rights standards, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. In many countries, people who have been forcibly evicted are denied access to justice and effective remedies.
The consequences of forced evictions continue to manifest years after they were carried out as communities struggle to access essential health services, water, sanitation and education. Those who are responsible for these human rights violations have still not been brought to account,” reads a petition by Amnesty.
In June 2005 the government launched Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle (Better Life), and claimed it would provide housing to those who lost homes during Operation Murambatsvina. However, very few victims of Operation Murambatsvina benefited from Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle, which also failed to comply with international standards on housing.
Many were allocated small bare plots of land on which they had to build homes with no assistance, and at least 20 per cent of any houses built were earmarked for civil servants, police and soldiers.
Many of those evicted still live in deplorable conditions.
Post published in: Politics
Is this not a question of the pot calling the Kettle black, i refer to the forced evictions of British citizens from land which they own yet they are denied planning permission on a sight that they have already shaped an existence? Oh I forgot the measures for human rights in the uk are for people with rights, Zimbabweans have no human rights except criticism for the lack off on the international press
This is utter nonsense. There is overwhelming evidence that MDC supporters are perpetuators of some gross and horrific violent activities just like ZANU- PF, This so called GPA has outlived its purpose much to the benefit of MDC members who have chosen to enrich themselves at the expense of the nation. The basic arrangement was to create a situation for free and democratic elections, but it is becoming clear that this a strategy to indoctrinate Zimbabweans that MDC is the only party with clean hands and therefore the right party to lead the country. This is Preposterous. The reality is that the creation of a violent free and democratic process will allow other political parties to enter the stage and the Zimbabwean people to make their own choices. MDC has exposed it self to some serious weaknesses and it does not have credible credentials to win an election hence it is playing for time by creating bureaucratic excuses. Lest we forget when Mugabe was brought to power(Lord Soames) the same international backers told Zimbabweans that choosing Mugabe was the best Choice, Britain even Rolled out the red carpet and honored Mugabe with an honoree degree, which they have since chosen to withdraw on factious claims which lack credible evidence. It must be considered that 1980 elections was the first black election in Zimbabwe and Britain chose to be the monitor of the transition to human rights and a democratic process, which they have been part of throughout Mugabe’s time in power. Just like they did with apartheid after generations of horrific apartheid and human rights abuses to black and colored people by white people who flew the British flag in Zimbabwe, they chose to denounce Ian Douglas Smith without sending him to the international courts of human rights. Renowned theorists say that there is nothing wrong with failure .failure is a benchmark for future success; however when the teacher declares that his best student was a failure then I think the student needs a new tutor.