THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT |ZIMBABWE I 2017 A child reading books outside a house burned during political violence in Chinhoyi in 2010 Pic Shepherd Tozvireva The total number of displaced households was 1 873.The total number of people affected is estimated at 6 644. Developments The Mnangagwa led government has made a good start on redressing land disputes by allowing the remaining 300-400 white farmers to also get 99-year leases for their farms. Some cases in point include that of white Zimbabwean farmer Robert Smart who got back his Lesbury farm, which is in Makoni district of Rusape post November 2017. Gun-wielding police evicted Smart and a mob associated with the ruling ZANU-PF party in June 2017 and a ruling party aligned cleric, Bishop Trevor Manhanga. Smart, however, returned to a hero’s welcome in December 2017 after the government facilitated for him to get his farm back. Internal Displacements From the surveys conducted mainly by the Forum and ZPP, IDPs were reported in four provinces across Zimbabwe. Apart from the fact that these people were left homeless, children lost out on education. Economic activities were disturbed and social relationships were disrupted. These challenges were exacerbated by the ailing economy, uncertain political situation and the lack of state capacity in assisting internally displaced persons. These factors have subjected the displaced persons to nasty and brutish conditions leaving them vulnerable to hunger and diseases. Mashonaland central was the worst affected province accounting for 38% of all internal displacements. 46

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