the high density urban neighborhood of Hatcliffe. These people were all affected by Operation Murambatsvina.22 In the late 1990s, the central government also encouraged the formation of housing cooperatives in the urban areas in an attempt to reduce the housing deficit. Some housing cooperatives on the outskirts of Harare were formed on farm land appropriated by the government during the land reform program in 2000.23 Women—who were identified as being most in need of housing—were encouraged to join housing cooperatives in an effort to ensure they had affordable housing. Local city council authorities allocated housing stands (plots)24 after interested buyers paid a deposit for their development. The authorities provided such buyers with forms to sign, and plans and documents proving their ownership and then allocated the stands. Those with sufficient funds were then given permission by local authorities to build houses on the stands. People who built houses on the stands either moved in or rented them out to others. Many of the cooperatives had electricity and water supplies provided by the council and the owners paid monthly water and electricity rates.25 In 1995, in an initial state report to the Committee on Economic and Social Rights on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the government of Zimbabwe acknowledged that it had a housing crisis manifested by: “the mushrooming of illegal backyard extensions in most high density areas resulting in overcrowding; the continued existence of substandard houses which require upgrading; and overcrowded households.”26 In its state report, the government accepted that no legislation existed in Zimbabwe to regularize the situation of those living in the “illegal” sector or that prohibited forced evictions.27 But it stated that in the circumstance of “illegal settlements,” it had the option to either upgrade any “illegal” settlements or resettle the people on other planned residential sites in line with international law. However, in carrying out Operation Murambatsvina, the government did not pursue either option. 22 Human Rights Watch interviews with residents of Porta Farm, MDC MP for Harare North Constituency, Trudy Stevenson, and Mike Davies, Committee of Harare Residents Association, June and July 2005; See also reports by Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum and UN Envoy’s Report. 23 Human Rights Watch interviews with members of cooperatives, June and July 2005. 24 Demarcated pieces of land for building a house or property. 25 Human Rights Watch interviews with members of cooperatives, June and July 2005. 26 Zimbabwe State Party Report. op cit. 27 Ibid. 9