20 Zimbabwe: No justice for the victims of forced evictions Even stands without access to water and sanitation facilities under Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle are too expensive for many poor people. Members of a women’s community organisation who have been allocated stands in Bulawayo were asked to pay Z$9.2 million (US$92), which the majority say they simply cannot afford. Most of these women made their living from informal trading, and lost their livelihoods as well as their homes during Operation Murambatsvina. It was also unclear whether further payments would be required following the initial deposit. Despite being asked to pay Z$9.2 million they had not seen their stands or been given any indication of when – or if – the stands will be serviced. By August only three women out of the fifteen who were offered the opportunity to purchase a stand were reported to have raised the funds for the deposit. As mentioned above, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has identified “affordability” as one of the key criteria to assess adequacy of housing and specifically stated that states “should establish housing subsidies for those unable to obtain affordable housing, as well as forms and levels of housing finance which adequately reflect housing needs.”56 The right to adequate water and sanitation The right to water is a recognised component of the right to an adequate standard of living.57 Access to safe drinking water and sanitation is intrinsically linked to full realisation of the right to adequate housing in international law.58 The Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, in its General Comment No. 4 on the right to adequate housing, makes clear that: “All beneficiaries of the right to adequate housing should have sustainable access to …safe drinking water… sanitation and washing facilities.” In Zimbabwe – as in most other countries – it is standard practice to put in place basic services such as water and sewage infrastructure and roads before building houses. In almost every location visited by Amnesty International the new houses had been built without any such facilities being put in place. City officials and housing experts stated that the absence of water and sewage facilities make the houses unfit for habitation because of the serious health risk associated with urban housing that has no or inadequate access to water and sanitation. In Bulawayo city officials said they would be extremely reluctant to issue certificates of occupancy for the un-serviced Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle houses at Cowdray Park, which were constructed by soldiers acting under the authority of central government, because they lacked proper water and sanitation facilities. However, the same officials said that if directed to do so by government they will not have any choice. Both Bulawayo City Council and Masvingo City Council reported that they had received directives from the Ministry of Local Government and the local Operation 56 See CESCR, General Comment No.4, paragraph 8(c). CESCR, General Comment 15. 58 E/CN.4/2001/5125 January 2001. 57 Amnesty International 8 September 2006 AI Index: AFR 46/005/2006