2005 Zimbabwe Home Clearances

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The 2005 Zimbabwe Home Clearances or Operation Restore Order is a supposed crackdown against illegal trading and illegal housing in Harare, Bulawayo and other urban areas conducted by the government of Zimbabwe, led by President Robert Mugabe.

The clearances have been condemned both by Zimbabwean opposition parties and by the wider international community.

Background

The clearances were initiated by Robert Mugabe and the ruling ZANU-PF weeks after the disputed elections held there. Mugabe claims that the clearances are needed in order to carry out "a vigorous clean-up campaign to restore sanity".

People who's homes are being demolished are being told to return to previous homes in the countryside, while some have been able to do this, many others have been forced to stay on the streets during some of the coldest nights of the Zimbabwean year. Others have moved in with relatives in other, so far uneffected areas.

Estimates so far suggest that as many as 200,000 Zimbabweans may have been affected by the crackdown.

As well as homes, demolished buildings include an orphanage ran by a group of Nuns. Children who had lost parents to the AIDS virus were given 24 hours to leave.

Condemnation

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change however believes that the demolishing of homes, markets and other buildings is punishment for the people of areas who supported the opposition during the recent elections.

The international community has also condemned the operation with nations and international organisations strongly attacking the Zimbabwean government's policy.

Kate Hoey MP has called on British Prime Minister Tony Blair to encourage South Africa to use it's regional influence to put pressure on Zimbabwean authorities to cease the crackdown.

External Links

• BBC News - Mugabe Defends Crackdown (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4078000.stm)
• ITV News On Scale of Destruction (http://www.itv.com/news/index_1832361.html)