25 new homes had been built, while 92,460 had been knocked down.
Many of those described as “built” lack doors, windows and even floors.
From the Amnesty report:
During May-July 2005, an estimated 700,000 people lost their homes, their livelihoods, or both when the Zimbabwe government forcibly evicted them and demolished their homes and businesses as part of Operation Murambatsvina (Drive Out Rubbish).
The forced evictions and demolitions were carried out without adequate notice, due process, legal protection, redress or appropriate relocation measures. In some instances court orders were disregarded. In addition, police used excessive force: property was destroyed and people were beaten.
The vast majority of the victims have received no help from the government. They have been left to find their own alternative shelter in the middle of winter. Many are now living in overcrowded and often squalid conditions and thousands of the victims are still living in the open under makeshift shelters.
Five weeks after the mass evictions began, the government launched Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle (Better Life). The Zimbabwe government has repeatedly described the programme as the building of houses for victims of the mass evictions.
Amnesty International research has found that, far from being a solution, the programme has not assisted virtually any of the victims of Operation Murambatsvina. Few houses have been constructed, and even those which have been built are too expensive for victims to afford.
Most of the houses designated as “built” are unfinished, do not have access to adequate safe water and sanitation, and are uninhabited. At least 20 per cent of the houses that have been built are officially earmarked for civil servants, police and soldiers. In reality far more than 20 per cent of the houses have been allocated to people who did not lose their homes during Operation Murambatsvina.
Despite having destroyed many of their livelihoods during the evictions, the government demands proof of income from people before they are considered for houses. Many informal vendors and traders who were supporting themselves and their families before Operation Murambatsvina have lost their only source of income, and could not provide any proof of income, even if they were offered the chance to purchase a house.
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