ActionAid International Southern Africa Partnership Programme (SAPP-Zimbabwe) accommodation because of the scarcity and cost, 2) shortage of buses to ferry displaced people to their rural areas, 3) in ability to secure bus fares and 4) people who had nowhere to go. Slightly over half of child- , elderly- and female headed households reported to being more vulnerable due to compromised security. 3.4.8 Disruption of the family unit Housing waiting list runs into hundreds of thousands in Harare and all other urban areas in Zimbabwe.19 Sharing of homesteads and extension of houses was a way in which Zimbabweans sought to mitigate the accommodation problem. One of the main aims according to the GoZ response to the UN Fact Finding Mission to Zimbabwe was to “stem disorderly or chaotic urbanization and its attendant problems that hinder the Government and local authorities from enforcing national and local authority by-laws and providing service delivery”.20 Table 9: Proportion of households affected The Operation went around by Operation Murambatsvina destroying structures that were Area deemed as illegal in Harare’s high Harare 43 density areas. More than three Bulawayo 26 quarters (3/4) of the respondents Mutare 49 reported losing shelter. If this is the Kariba 27 case, due to the strain and naturally Beitbridge 5 the exorbitant rentals the landlords Victoria Falls 6 would require from tenants, the Overall 38 family unit suffers. It is worrying to note that 38% of homesteads visited reported that family units had been disrupted as a result of the operation. Results from all six surveyed areas are shown in Table 9. Mostly children and spouses had been relocated back to the rural homesteads where this was possible. Furthermore, it is disturbing to note that slightly over 40% of households hosting orphans reported families having been disrupted. 3.4.9 Women status and dignity Humiliation and loss of dignity as a direct result of the operation was also reported. Prior to the demolition exercise, it is reported and accounted by respondents that the responsible authorities would move around marking what they deemed as illegal structures using paint. The marked buildings were either to be destroyed by the occupants or by the GoZ, the latter being an uncompromising exercise. Such actions resembled a war situation. Therefore, naturally, women primarily as custodians of the family were victims of these drastic measures and resulting fear. This is witnessed by 36% of the interviewed homesteads claiming that they had lost their dignity as a result of the Operation. Mutare recorded a high proportion (57%) of respondents whom were affected by the operation. Results obtained from all areas surveyed are depicted in Annex. Slightly more female headed households (40%) compared to male headed households (28%) responded to this question. Generally no major deviation from the 36% was witnessed across the other vulnerable categories. 19 Report of the fact finding Mission to Zimbabwe to assess the Scope and Impact of Operation Murambatsvina – Mrs Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka 20 Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the Report of the UN Fact Finding Mission To Zimbabwe: A Preliminary Response Zimbabwe Operation Murambatsvina/Restore Order National Survey Report 24