Police: 20,000 Zimbabwe shacks razed

[QC]

Police say they have razed more than 20,000 shacks and other structures in what President Robert Mugabe calls an urban cleanup campaign -- but what critics at home and abroad have decried as an assault on the poor.

Police Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka, quoted Tuesday in a government newspaper, said that 21,194 "illegal structures" had been demolished nationwide, and 32,435 people arrested since "Operation Murambatsvina" -- drive out trash -- began May 19.

"The operation continues until we have weeded out all criminal elements countrywide," Mandipaka told The Herald.

Zimbabwean clerics, doctors, teachers and human rights lawyers have called the mass evictions and arrests of street traders a crime against the poor.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/africa/06/15/zimbabwe.crrackdown.ap/index.html

[CottonBear]

1. Sounds like the 1960's "Urban Renewal" program in the US

which destroyed the homes of the poor (mostly black) who were relocated into public housing ghettos.
:(

[Igel]

2. The further claim isn't just that it's an assault on the poor, but

that the poor are predominantly supporters of Mugabe's opposition.

That makes it a joint class/political razing. I especially like the "Operation Drive Out Trash" designation.

One RW source points out that at least one mosque was also razed, presumably with its contents. Seems likely, although confirmation would be nice.

[meganmonkey]

3. Exactly. Punishment for not supporting him.

:(

[jwirr]

4. So Poor = Criminal Element. God does no one

understand that is not true. In the book of Proverbs in the Bible there are at least 3 verses that warn people to "be good to the poor because God created them also". Oh well, who pays attention to the truth anymore.