of houses and markets stalls, and the manner in which they were carried out, constitute serious human rights violations. The operation was jointly organized by the Minister of Local Government and Urban Housing, Ignatius Chombo, the Minister of Home Affairs, Kembo Mohadi, the Commissioner of Police, Augustine Chihuri, the Chairperson of the governmentappointed City of Harare Commission, Sekesai Makwavara and the Governor of Metropolitan Harare, David Karimanzira.38 The official launch of the operation took place on May 19 at the Harare Town House when the Chairperson of the Harare Commission Sekesai Makwavara gave a speech informing the public that the City of Harare was officially launching Operation Murambatsvina in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Republic Police.39 On May 24, five days later, the Harare City Council published a notice in the stateowned newspaper, The Herald, of an enforcement order under the Regional Town and Country Planning Act, giving occupants the option to either regularize their houses or demolish them and was to become effective on June 20, 2005.40 Two days later, Ignatius Chombo speaking on state television also said that the government would give the public “June and July” as notice to legalize their structures.41 But on the very next day and in to the months of June and July, the government evicted thousands of people and destroyed their homes in high density suburbs such as Epworth, Mbare and Chitungwiza in Harare and in Sakubva, Mutare. The evictions then moved on to other parts of the country such as Gweru and Bulawayo. Not all the victims were aware of the enforcement order that was published in the papers. Victims of the evictions informed Human Rights Watch that local city council authorities and the police gave them varying notice periods to leave their houses, ranging from one or two days, to a week. For example, in some instances, local city council authorities and police would visit neighborhoods a few days in advance and warn inhabitants that their houses would be demolished. In many other cases, victims received no advance warning.42 38 Human Rights Watch interview with city council housing officer and UN officials, Harare June 25 and 30, 2005; See also Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum report “ Order out of chaos or chaos out of order: A preliminary report on Operation Murambatsvina,” June 2005. 39 Ibid. 40 As published in the Herald Newspaper of May 24, 2005. 41 Speaking on Zimbabwe Television, May 26, 2005. 42 Human Rights Watch interviews, Harare and Mutare, June and July 2005. 12