28 Zimbabwe: No justice for the victims of forced evictions Recommendations to the government of Zimbabwe 1. Develop a comprehensive human rights-based housing programme ™ Review and revise Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle in a transparent and open manner, with the participation of all stakeholders, in order to develop a comprehensive human rights-based housing programme to address the housing needs of all victims of Operation Murambatsvina. A revised Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle should be guided by the advice provided in General Comment 4 of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on adequate housing and must include: • Security of tenure • Prioritisation of the most vulnerable • Specific provisions to address the housing needs of the poorest who cannot afford the cost of a stand or building materials • Plans to ensure adequate access to safe water and sanitation ™ Ensure that the revised Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle plans, including targets, timeframes, clear information on allocation procedures and information about plans for the provision of water, sanitation and other services and all costs which beneficiaries may have to meet, are published and made widely available. ™ Provide sufficient guarantees that human rights will be upheld without discrimination, including by establishing a mechanism for independent monitoring of delivery of the housing programme. ™ Place an immediate moratorium on all evictions from Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle houses and stands until the operation has been reviewed and brought into line with human rights law and standards. Any evictions which take place as a consequence of this review, for example to address an original misallocation, should be in line with international human rights law. 2. Use all available resources It is clear that the government of Zimbabwe cannot address the major housing crisis with its own resources. ™ Where the government is unable to meet its obligations it should request technical assistance and international cooperation from outside bodies to support a housing programme which is based on human rights. 3. Ensure the provision of adequate water and sanitation ™ Sufficient safe water and sanitation should be assured as a component of Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle. If the government is unable to fulfil its obligations to ensure access to sufficient safe water and sanitation for all, it should seek international Amnesty International 8 September 2006 AI Index: AFR 46/005/2006