Your Excellencies, welcome to this briefing session.  This is my first time to meet you as a group.  I would therefore like to begin by welcoming you all to the Ministry and assure you of my desire to meet all of you individually.

Excellencies,

You will all be aware by now that the Government of Zimbabwe launched ‘Operation Murambatsvina/Restore Order’ on Friday, 20 May 2005.  I wish to inform you that this operation was launched following extensive consultations among stakeholders on the need to rid the national environment of illegal residential and commercial structures and unlicensed trading premises as well as decongesting the cities and towns in order to establish an environment conducive to investment and peaceful habitation.  In his speech during the opening of the First Session of the 6^th Parliament of Zimbabwe on 9 June 2005, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde R. G. Mugabe expressed the Government’s determination to implement this operation to its successful conclusion.

This operation, which was along overdue, has grossly and deliberately been distorted and politicized by our detractors.

Rationale

The proliferation of illegal business premises and practices was a source of real concern to central and local government.  The diversion of basic commodities from legal outlets caused panic among members of the public, resulting in the resurgence of over pricing and black market activities.  Unauthorized tuck shops and unsafe illegal structures especially in the urban areas provided a ready market for diverted basic commodities, which would be sold to the public at exorbitant prices.  This parallel economy was bleeding the formal economy and thus undermining efforts to turn round the national economy.  Furthermore the illegal structures that sprouted over the years also served as hideouts for criminals.   Some of these places such as the infamous Siyaso had become ideal and ready markets for stolen goods and property.

The sprouting of illegal housing structures in the urban and peri-urban areas further compounded the situation.   Most towns and cities had lost their glow.   The mushrooming of these illegal premises has seen the government losing billions of dollars in potential revenue, which could otherwise be used to enhance living standards and infrastructure development in the country.

Equally damaging were illegal dealings in foreign currency and precious stones.  In provinces with rich gold deposits, illegal panning activities and illegal dealings in precious minerals were rampant, a situation detrimental to our national efforts to turnaround the economy.  The elicit panners and gold dealers, apart from plundering the country’s resources, were also settling themselves in any location they deemed convenient for their unlawful operations, and in the  process have caused extensive environmental degradation.

Right across Zimbabwe, over the past few years, there was an unprecedented and menacing influx of illegal vendors, traders, street dwellers and loiterers.  The orderliness of the cities had been seriously compromised and unscrupulous business practices had reached unacceptable proportions.

These challenges demanded a decisive and appropriate response.  Consequently, the local authorities and Central Government have moved to restore order.  Hence operation Murambatsvina.

Negative Propaganda

Despite the noble objectives of the operation, the Government of Zimbabwe has been condemned and demonized by some western countries for carrying out ‘Operating Murambatsvina/Restore Order’.  The exercise has been blown out of proportion and out of context for well known political objectives and not so secret agendas.  To these countries, Zimbabwe can never do anything right. We democratized land ownership and they imposed economic sanctions; we organized a perfect election and they condemned us for it.

Isn’t it ironic that the countries that in yester year condemned us of not enforcing the law regarding illegal settlements are the same countries that are now not only condemning us but are threatening us with further sanctions for enforcing the very laws they said they wanted enforced.

These same countries had initially attempted to peddle the lie that this operation was aimed at punishing supporters of a certain political party that is well known to be extremely close to their hearts.

However, for once, the facts on the ground forced them to make a hasty retreat.  Now they are trying to cling to baseless allegations of violation of human rights.   On this they are destined to fall flat on their faces.  How can the removal of squalid conditions in return for properly planned living environments constitute a violation of human rights?  We totally reject the notion that our former colonial masters should shamelessly try to occupy the moral high ground in an effort to convince the world through their weapons of mass deception that they love and care for the people of Zimbabwe more than the leadership that saw them through a protracted armed struggle against brutal and racist British colonial rule.   These attacks against our sovereignty constitute relentless efforts to re-colonise our people and our resources.  On this, your Excellencies, they will never succeed.

These kinds of operations are not unique to Zimbabwe.  They are routinely carried out around the world including in their own countries.  Yet, nowhere have we witnessed the kind of outcry that has been generated by the western countries, even before they had even established the facts on the ground.  We cannot accept these hypocritical double standards.

In this respect, we welcome the U.N. Secretary General’s special Envoy on Human settlement issues who will have the opportunity to objectively establish the facts on the ground.  Zimbabwe has nothing to hide.

When the operation took off, the objectives of the operation were clearly spelt out and Police Officers involved in the operation were briefed on the need to proceed with great care and sensitivity.  There has been no suggestion of heavy-handedness or untoward actions by the police.  Both the print and electronic media were used to warn people that they should demolish their illegal structures or else the police would move in to supervise the removal of such structures.  The efforts by the Police to snuff out illegal activities, weed out criminal elements, restore law and order and eliminate illegal markets have won public praise countrywide.

Some critics who have challenged the legality of the operation in terms of Zimbabwe’s obligations with respect to international conventions regarding the provision of adequate housing.   It is an insult to our people to suggest that the illegal structures that have been removed constitute adequate housing.  Quite to the contrary. Operation Murambatsvina /Restore Order is only a small phase in the massive reconstruction programme to provide our people with adequate housing and suitable premises to do business within the framework of the laws of Zimbabwe.

Hon, Minister Dr Chombo who chairs the Inter-Ministerial Reconstruction Committee, will now brief you on this massive programme to meet the needs and requirements of our people.

I Thank You

1.     Your Excellencies, the Government of Zimbabwe takes this opportunity to renew to you and your governments assurances of its highest consideration.

2.      May I take this opportunity to share with you, our views in respect of the massive nationally driven clean up mission code named operation “restore order” and the pursuant reconstruction initiative.

3.      From the onset it is pertinent to highlight that, the exercise is not unique to Zimbabwe, as precedence indicates that similar programmes have been executed in other African countries and even in the United Kingdom where the Labour government is demolishing 400 000 homes in the Midlands and the North, because these homes have now become slums.

4.      The Government of Zimbabwe at independence inherited an urban infrastructure whose design capacity, was meant to cater for a small population consistent with the racial dictates of the day.

5.      Come independence the non racial democratic thrust, opened up the urban habitat to the black majority, who moved into towns and cities in search of formal employment.

6.         Invariably, the urban infrastructure in terms of housing, water supplies, sewerage facilities and management of waste, could not cope with the influx, even in the face of formidable housing development mounted by government. On a related note, the size of the economy could not absorb all the people on the market.

7.         Consequent upon this development,

(a) There has been a proliferation of illegal structures for habitation and vending operations. The attendant results in the manner of general over crowding, polluted environment, sewerage blockages and erratic supplies of water were rampant.

(b) Some misguided elements took advantage of the informal sector scenario, as exacerbated by the ill conceived economic structural adjustment programme of the 1990’s, to perpetrate illegal practices such as profiteering, illegally dealing in foreign currency, fraudulent dealings, corruption, hoarding of essential commodities, drug trafficking and other unpalatable social undertakings.

8.      The foregoing ushered chaos and discomfort in our urban centres, so as to warrant intervention by the State in collaboration with the local authorities.

9.      The exercise entailed destruction of shacks and unauthorised vending structures to restore the aesthetic beauty of our towns and cities; while enhancing the sanitary outlook of the same. Contrary to the views of our detractors, the operation restore order is an objective, apolitical assignment to restore the dignity of our people who have lived and operated outside the plans of the local authorities.

10.     The exercise which started in Harare as planned on 18 May 2005 has rolled out to all urban centres across the country; and has affected residents irrespective of race, colour, creed and political persuasion. However, critical to note is the fact that, some genuine traders were inevitably caught up in the implementation of the clean up.

11.     While the clean up is in progress, some positive results have already been posted as follows:

(a) Most central business districts are now clean and orderly,

(b) Crime has significantly declined following the destruction of illegal structures which had become havens for criminal activities.

(c) Enforcement of by-laws is now feasible

(d) Some basic commodities have now resurfaced on shelves, and

(e) Provision of water, sewerage and lighting facilities is set to improve as the illegal developments were diverting the provision of such services from the targeted beneficiaries.

12.     In spite of the achievements, registered to date, some challenges have emerged, in the form of:

(a) Some families being rendered homeless, with the attendant transient discomfort, and

(b) Loss of income for genuine informal traders who no longer have approved premises to operate from.

13.     To redress the situation, government has defined and put in place relevant institutional arrangements as follows:

(a) The Ad-hoc Interministerial reconstruction committee chaired by Local Government Public Works and Urban Development; with 18 other Ministries. This will coordinate and monitor the reconstruction programme,

(b) A Steering Committee of Officials chaired by Local Government Public Works and Urban Development to take care of the logistical aspects relevant to the programme,

(c) The Inter-Agency Operational Committee constituting the hub for the implementation of the programme. The same is chaired by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces; and

(d) The Provincial Task Organisation which cascades to districts where the action takes place.

14.     While provinces are finalising their challenge analysis, and determination of requisite resources, action has commenced in Harare Metropolitan Province.

15.         Progress to date

(a) One trillion dollars has been availed to support the programme.

(b) Whitecliffe site

(i) The Ministry Of Local Government Public Works and Urban Development is constructing four model houses which are to be complete by end of day- to- day.

(ii) Scientific, Industrial Research and Development Centre is working on one model house, based on rammed earth technology, while the Intermediate Technology Development Group is working on another model structure premised on stabilised soil blocks.

(iii) Forestry Commission is working on a timber framed model house.

(iv) Red River (Pvt) Limited is working on steel rammed model structure.

(v) Ministry of Transport and Communications and District Development Fund have commenced opening of roads.

(vi) ZINWA is drilling boreholes

(vii) Foundations excavation for 150 x 2 roomed core houses commenced on 25 June 2005.

(viii) Allocation of 9960 stands is complete and beneficiaries are receiving offer letters

(ix) Ground is being cleared in preparation of moulding cement bricks and blocks on site.

(x) To date construction units have been mobilized from the Ministry of Youth Development and Employment Creation. More manpower is being mobilized.

(xi) Producers of requisite construction materials are being approached to warehouse their materials on site.

(xii) Construction of carpentry workshop shells and showrooms is in progress at Willowvale construction site.

(c) Hopley

Layout plans have been completed and survey has been instructed on 7200 stands. Allocation of stands has started.

(d) Ordariglaudina Farms

Layout plan preparation is at an advanced stage

(e) Caledonia Transit Camp (currently holds 2688 people)

(i) A police post has been established to maintain law and order.

(ii) Ministry of Health and Child Welfare is running a mobile clinic.

(iii) Department of Social Welfare, UNICEF, Red Cross, Red Crescent, Christian Care, Justice for Children Foundation, Roman Catholic Church, European Commission and Ministers Fraternal are jointly to providing social services.

16.     The task is huge, but not insurmountable. There is need for a full buy-in by all stake holders. We crave your esteemed support on the diplomatic front so as to correctly portray the thrust of this programme as executed by the Zimbabwean Government.

I Thank You

 POLICY, RESEARCH AND PROMOTIONS

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

S.S. Mumbengegwi

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS : 31 March 2005