23 Statements by Dr Chenjerai Hunzvi Dr Hunzvi was a war veteran and the late Member of Parliament for Chikomba On 10 December 2000 he said: “We are not afraid of the High Court . . . this country belongs to us and we will take it whether they like it or not. The judges must resign. Their days are numbered as I am talking to you . . . I am telling you what the comrades want, not what the law says.” Another war veterans’ leader noted: “The judiciary must go home or else we will chase them and close the courts indefinitely until President Mugabe appoints replacements.” (Source: The Star 4 December 2000) This was followed by a threat to remove judges by force if they did not resign within a fortnight. Murambatsvina Murambatsvina is a Shona verbal noun which breaks downto "muramba" meaning “one who refuses” and “tsvina” which means "dirt" or "filth". In this sense, Murambatsvina would mean "the one who refuses dirt". The operation was named in this way to indicate that dirt was being cleaned out of the cities. Starting in May 2005 the urban poor all around the country fell victim to a devastating military style operation that left some 700 000 men, women and children homeless or without a source of livelihood or both. A further 2.4 million people were adversely affected. Large numbers of dwellings and market stalls were destroyed and people were left without shelter in mid-winter. Large forces of armed police carried out this campaign backed up by army personnel being ferried in large troop carriers. This was an awesome force to be deployed against poor unarmed people who included women and children and sick and disabled people. During the campaign it was publicly proclaimed that no resistance to the action would be tolerated. Local Government Minister Ignatious Chombo said, “We are simply restoring order. Yes we expected some resistance but the security forces are on hand to crush any hooliganism. It is these people who have been making the country ungovernable by their criminal activities actually.” (Source: Zimonline 28 May 2005) Their words condemn them: The language of violence, intolerance and despotism in Zimbabwe.