Mugabe defends demolitions drive
Zimbabwe's president has defended his government's campaign of
demolitions and evictions which the UN believes has left about
250,000 people homeless.
Robert Mugabe said the removal of illegal homes and market stalls
was part of a bid to fight crime and clean up cities.
At least three children have been crushed to death during the
campaign.
Earlier, the African Union rejected calls from the UK and US to
speak out against President Mugabe's government.
An spokesman said the organisation had many more serious problems
to consider.
In remarks broadcast on state television, Mr Mugabe said: "As much
as 3 trillion [Zimbabwe dollars - about $3bn] has been committed to
this programme... There is a clear construction and reconstruction
programme.
"We pledged to revitalise our cities and towns and to deliver as
many as 1.2 million housing units and residential stands by the
year 2008. We also undertook to reorganise our SMEs [small and
medium business enterprises] so they could grow and expand in an
environment that is supportive, clean and decent."
Zimbabwe's Local Government Minister, Ignatius Chombo, said he was
happy with what he described as a normal clean-up operation.
Speaking to the BBC, he denied that it had created widespread
humanitarian problems, and said the demolitions had been welcomed
by all patriotic Zimbabweans.
The opposition says the demolitions - codenamed Operation Restore
Order - are meant to punish urban residents, who have rejected
President Mugabe in recent elections.
'Irritated'
Urging the AU to take action, US Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice described recent events as "tragic".
But AU spokesman Desmond Orjiako told the BBC's Network Africa
programme: "If the government that they elected say they are
restoring order by their actions, I don't think it would be proper
for us to go interfering in their internal legislation."
His comments were backed up by South Africa, Zimbabwe's giant
neighbour, which some see as the key to solving Zimbabwe's
problems.
Presidential spokesman Bheki Khumalo said he was "irritated" by
calls from UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to do more to end the
"horrors" in Zimbabwe.
"South Africa refuses to accept the notion that because suddenly
we're going to a G8 summit, we must be reminded that we must look
good and appease the G8 leaders," he said.
"We will do things because we believe they are correct and
right."
The G8 summit of the world's most powerful nations is due to
discuss efforts to relieve poverty in Africa on 8 July in
Scotland.
Many African leaders see Mr Mugabe as a hero for leading the fight
against colonial rule.
South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki has questioned why the West is
so concerned by Zimbabwe but makes relatively little noise about
other African emergencies, such as the Democratic Republic of
Congo, where some three million people died in a civil war, and
where armed bands kill, rape and loot with impunity in some
areas.
The BBC's Elizabeth Blunt also says that many African countries
have carried out similar slum clearances and so will be unwilling
to criticise Zimbabwe.
Living rough
Some 46,000 people have been arrested for trading without a
licence, hoarding and illegal possession of foreign currency,
Zimbabwe's police chief Augustine Chihuri said.
Mr Chihuri said that burglary and car-theft had declined by 20%
since the operation began four weeks ago.
The children who have died were crushed to death when their homes
were knocked down during Operation Murambatsvina [Drive out
rubbish].
The police have moved across Zimbabwe's urban areas, armed with
bulldozers and sledge-hammers, destroying shacks and informal
markets.
Often, residents have been made to demolish the structures
themselves.
The UN is due to send a special envoy to Zimbabwe to investigate
the demolitions.
Many people are living on the streets, while others have returned
to their rural homes, encouraged by the government.
Source: BBC
News
Man, its official. Africa is led by people who are either mad,
or incredibly stupid. I especially like the Zimbabwean Police
Chief's response:
Mr Chihuri said that burglary and car-theft had declined by 20%
since the operation began four weeks ago.
Yes dear, crime has fallen. And you know what? There would be NO
crime after you murder everyone in the country because, well, there
would be no one left.
Another gem:
AU spokesman Desmond Orjiako told the BBC's Network Africa
programme: "If the government that they elected say they are
restoring order by their actions, I don't think it would be proper
for us to go interfering in their internal legislation."
Uh-huh. So if Zimbabwe passes internal legislation that provides
for the assimilation of the whole of africa into Zimbabwe? Why are
there such stupid ppl around? And why aren't they in 'special'
schools?
I've totally lost faith in evolution. Such people should have been
extinct long ago.
PS: I think i posted this in the wrong forum. I realize there is
really nothing SAF about this...except perhaps for the fact that i
hope the SAF could help cull the leaders of Africa.
