5.5 Humanitarians as Potential Targets for Evictions Staff members from humanitarian agencies have also been affected by the ongoing evictions. For example, one UN agency reported at the beginning of July that 20% of its staff had either been evicted or were providing shelter for evictees.101 Several NGOs as well as UN agencies expressed concern that their own offices could eventually be targeted for demolition, as they were located in residential buildings that had been converted into offices, and that they therefore had been forced to prepare contingency plans. The ongoing demolitions are thus contributing to an overall sense of insecurity, lowering staff morale and the effectiveness of agencies operating in Zimbabwe. 5.6 Limited space for Effective Dialogue There is currently no regular forum for joint working-level consultations on the humanitarian response between the Government, the UN and the civil society. The establishment of such a forum is essential to improving dialogue, formulating joint strategies and action plans, and promoting the implementation of best practices. Most international, regional and local NGOs have been requested by the Government to focus their efforts on their ongoing programmes and not to get involved in assisting victims of Operation Restore Order. Overall, the NGO community considers itself marginalized by bureaucratic restrictions such as difficulties in obtaining visas for key international staff and invasive investigations into finances and foreign exchange. These restrictions have driven up the cost of operations and oblige management to spend a disproportionate amount of their time dealing with administrative red tape. This constrained humanitarian space has led some NGOs to leave the country entirely (e.g. Medair in November 2004102), while others have considered scaling down their operations and focusing their attention on other countries. In meetings with the mission, many NGOs described a “climate of fear”, which has led both national and international NGOs to exercise “self-censorship” to avoid being closed down or evicted.103 Anecdotal evidence shared with the mission suggests that these fears are not unfounded. For example, on 12 July, the police reportedly detained a staff member from Action Aid for seven hours after she took pictures of aid being distributed by another NGO at Caledonia Farm.104 In meetings with civil society, several NGOs also expressed fears of retributions following their testimonies to the mission of the Special Envoy.105 National NGOs are generally concerned about taking any actions that may provoke the Government. According to several NGOs, the new NGO Bill, which was passed by Parliament in 2004 but ostensibly rejected by the President, is de facto in place. 106 101 Confidential source. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/0/b5b3e9c15ba87ea6c1256f580055f1ac?OpenDocument 103 Testimony made in the Special Envoy’s consultation with international NGOs in Harare. 104 “Aid worker arrested for taking photographs”, South African Press Association, 12 July 2005. 105 Fears expressed at a town hall meeting with civil society in Mutare on 2 July 2005, and during consultations with women’s organizations in Harare on 29 June 2005. 106 In the SE’s consultation meeting with civil society in Bulawayo, it was observed that “President Mugabe” was aware of this and “was having his cake and eating it too” 102 54