12
Zimbabwe: No justice for the victims of forced evictions
destroyed).35 Based on Amnesty International’s investigations, including nine site visits, the
majority of these houses are incomplete, lacking one or more of doors, windows, floors and
roofs. Few of the houses have adequate access to clean water and sanitation.
It seems unlikely that even the original Phase I target of 5,275 houses will be reached
in the near future. There is a severe shortage of basic building materials and fuel in Zimbabwe
and the government is reported to have run out of funds to even finish the existing houses.36
Allocation of residential land plots (stands) for house building
The situation with regard to allocation of residential stands is unclear. According to
the Ministry of Local Government, Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle’s goal is to provide some
200,000 residential stands. 37 As far as Amnesty International could ascertain no serviced
stands have been allocated under Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle to date. Un-serviced stands
(i.e., without access to water or sanitation facilities) have reportedly been allocated in Gweru,
at Cowdray Park in Bulawayo, and at Hatcliffe, Whitecliffe and Hopley IDP camp in
Harare.38 According to a report produced by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local
Government, which visited several Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle sites in April 2006,
stands have been allocated as follows:
Table 2: Allocation of residential stands under Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle
Location
Cowdray Park, Bulawayo
Hopley IDP camp
Gweru
Hatcliffe
Number of stands allocated
528 out of a potential 7,000
Unknown
997
366
Media and NGO reports also indicate that some un-serviced stands have been
allocated in other parts of the country. As far as Amnesty International could ascertain, those
allocated stands have not been provided with any assistance to build a house. Despite this the
government has reportedly given some beneficiaries a limited amount of time in which to
both start and complete the construction of their house or face losing their stand. This form of
tenure leaves people vulnerable to re-eviction ("repossession"). According to a local NGO
working with some of those who have been allocated stands, people are struggling with
bureaucratic procedures relating to approval of building plans and there is a lack of clarity
about whether water and sanitation facilities should be constructed before or after house
construction.
35
The figure 3,325 is the one quoted by the government of Zimbabwe to the ACHPR in May 2006.
Second report of the Portfolio Committee on Local Government on progress made on the Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle
Programme, June 2006, S.C. 21, 2006.
37
This figure was displayed on an Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle notice board in the Ministry of Local Government, Public
Works and Urban Development offices in Harare in May 2006 and seen by the Amnesty International mission.
38
Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle houses and stands at Hopley and Hatcliffe reportedly have some access to water and toilets
provided as humanitarian assistance to IDPs.
36
Amnesty International 8 September 2006
AI Index: AFR 46/005/2006
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