[If only the flame could be lit into a Revolutionary war to destroy this evil bastard. It is a vain hope I have… Jan]

The Zimbabwe government”s campaign to clear the homes, businesses and even gardens of the poor from its cities has sparked more violence, a pro-government newspaper reported on Wednesday even as state radio claimed those displaced were being provided for. The United Nations estimates up to 1,5-million people are homeless after police burned or demolished their shacks in what the government calls a “clean-up” campaign in the cities. The political opposition, which has its base among the urban poor, says the four-week-old Operation Murambatsvina, or “Drive Out Trash”, is meant to punish its supporters. The government said on Tuesday that besides knocking down shacks and the kiosks of street vendors, police are intensifying efforts to destroy vegetable gardens the urban poor plant in vacant lots around Harare, saying the plots threaten the environment. The pro-government Daily Mirror reported on Wednesday that there has been rioting by scores of people resisting demolitions in the Marondera and Wedza townships, 110km east of Harare on Tuesday. Police spokesperson Darlington Mathuthu told the newspaper police had to call for reinforcements and arrested at least eight people who had been involved in running battles with security forces. Such violence has not been uncommon since the campaign started on May 19. Thousands of urban poor have had their homes burned or bulldozed, or pulled them down themselves on orders given at gunpoint. Babies, the terminally ill and the elderly have been forced to sleep out in freezing midwinter temperatures.

State radio, though, said on Wednesday that some of those displaced have moved to a farm 30km east of Harare. The broadcast said charities are working with the government of President Robert Mugabe to turn the site “into a healthy, comfortable destination”. “Some families have already been resettled after vetting,” said Inspector Eunice Marange, the police officer in charge of what the state radio said was a “transit camp” at Caledonia. “The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare has since moved in to vaccinate children and provide other services, while accommodation, water and food has also been made available,” Marange told the radio station. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change says “vetting” means proving loyalty to Mugabe”s ruling Zanu PF party, with suspected opposition supporters being forced into the countryside for “re-education”, under a policy similar to that of the former Pol Pot regime in Cambodia. Over the weekend, independent journalists reported there was one toilet for 3 000 people at Caledonia Farm, with new arrivals required to register with local Zanu-PF officials before they were allowed to line up for it. They also reported a heavy presence at Caledonia of secret police agents who say they want to hear what the people say and observe who visits them. A UN spokesperson said on Monday that Anna Tibaijuka, the Tanzanian head of UN Habitat, will be coming to Zimbabwe soon to judge the impact of Operation Murambatsvina for Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Tibaijuka”s office said on Wednesday the date for her visit had not yet been set.

From The Mail & Guardian (SA), 22 June
Source: Daily Mail & Guardian