with us wishing to go home and asking for transport. They can’t continue to sleep outside. Something has to be done.76 After the evictions: the rebuilding and reconstruction program On June 29, the government announced a new phase of the operation called “Operation Garikai,” (reconstruction), reportedly to provide decent accommodation to those affected by the evictions and to substantially reduce the urban housing waiting list.77 President Mugabe announced that the government had set aside 3 trillion Zimbabwe dollars (US$300 million) to build up to 1.2 million houses.78 According to the UN report on the impact of the evictions, the government claimed that it would build 4900 stands (plots) in the coming months.79 But the report argued that Operation Garikai seemed to have been hastily implemented and did not account for the immediate shelter needs of people who had been rendered homeless by the evictions.80 In any case, those affected would likely not have had their rights so seriously violated, if prior to the evictions, the government had undertaken a consultation process and looked at ways of minimizing the negative effects of the evictions. As Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights argued, “such a program would have achieved more beneficial results if there had been a process of research, verification, consultation and subsequent action, including the regularization of any purported illegal structures rather than demolitions.”81 In July, the government decided to close the transit camp that was set up for evicted people in Harare.82 On July 21, Ignatius Chombo informed the inhabitants of Caledonia Transit Camp that the government would vet people to determine who would be reallocated houses.83 In violation of the right to freedom of movement and choice of 76 Human Rights Watch interview with local priest, Harare, June 28, 2005. 77 The Herald Online, “Spear head Operation Garikai, councils told,” July 15, 2005. 78 The Herald Online, “Garikai, solution to housing woes,” July 27, 2005. 79 UN Special Envoy on Human Settlement Issues in Zimbabwe, Report of the Fact-Finding Mission to assess the Scope and Impact of Operation Murambatsvina, July 22, 2005. 80 Ibid. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights Press Statement, “The Legal Implications of Operation Murambatsvina and Operation Restore Order, June 30, 2005. 81 Human Rights Watch telephone interviews, July 21, 2005; see also News 24 online, “Zim closes camp for homeless,” July 24, 2005. 82 83 Minutes of address of meeting with Caledonia Farm residents by the Minister of Local government Ignatius Chombo, July 21, 2005. People at Caledonia Transit Camp were told that if they had lease agreements they would be given priority to return to their stands; those paying membership fees and registered with housing cooperatives would be allowed to go back and stay on allocated pieces of land; all people that have jobs in Harare but have no housing stands would need to prove their status to camp management before they were granted permission to seek alternative accommodation in Harare; those without jobs and no offer letter for housing stands were told they would be compulsorily transported to their rural areas of origin. 19