An in-depth Study on the impacts of Operation Murambatsvina
are reports that indicate that such actions have continued after the announcement by the
Vice-President of the suspension of Operation Murambatsvina.
Significantly, the report of the UN Special Envoy holds the Zimbabwe Government
responsible for the humanitarian disaster that has followed Operation Murambatsvina, but was
unable to apportion any specific responsibility. Whilst it is evident that the victims have
generally had little opportunity to seek legal redress, and that the Zimbabwe courts have
generally been unhelpful, recent judgments in the Zimbabwe courts have indicated that the
Zimbabwe Republic Police [ZRP] have been acting unlawfully in the destruction of property
and the confiscation of goods.
The Zimbabwe Government continues to deny all accusations and allegations, and shows
little concern for the humanitarian consequences of this “disastrous venture”, as it was
termed by the UN Special Envoy. Whenever it is the subject of adverse reports, the
Zimbabwe Government has shown a tendency to vilify and denigrate the authors of such
reports, and then resorts to various delaying tactics in order to prevent discussion of such
reportsvi. For example, the Zimbabwe Government refused to give diplomatic accreditation
to a high-level official of the African Union, who had come to Harare to understand the
situation and report back to the AU in its meeting in Tripoli last month.
However, it is the case that many Zimbabweans are still suffering, with evictions continuing,
and this present report demonstrates the consequences for the affected in a number of key
thematic areas. These thematic areas where chosen in order to highlight the plight of the
victims of Operation Murambatsvina.
A brief report on the preliminary findings from this most recent study was recently issuedvii,
and the present report provides the detailed findings. A further series of reports may follow
in future.
ii