[Pics] How Robert Mugabe Punished 1.5 million Black people in 1 month - Operation Murambatsvina: Operation Cleanup

[This is one of the old but important stories from the original AfricanCrisis website that I am converting on to the new site, in the new format. It is now 2009, and despite losing another of several elections, Mugabe still rules the country. Jan]

	Operation Murambatsvina: Operation Cleanup: How Robert Mugabe Punished 1.5 million Black people in 1 month Here is a quick summary of the background of what you are about to see:- In June 2005, Robert Mugabe unleashed a rampage of hell against those who voted for the Opposition in March 2003. European Union observers stated that the March 2003 election was stolen by Mugabe. Knowledgeable insiders have estimated that the MDC won the March 2003 election by a factor of 2:1 against Mugabe. The Police, with earthmoving equipment smashed and burned the houses where 1.5 million Black people lived. They also smashed businesses (e.g. Grocery stores, hair salons, etc) and even demolished a Muslim Mosque. Black people say that Police and earthmoving equipment arrived suddenly and started smashing and burning down houses without warning while all their possessions were inside. Two Black children were crushed to death inside their homes before their parents could save them. Eddie Cross of the MDC estimates this country-wide campaign will ultimately result in 2 million Blacks losing their homes. To date, the estimated number of Black people arrested number a staggering: 46,000 (and rising). It is estimated, that in less than a month Mugabe has destroyed 25% of the economy through this action. The United States Govt and the European Union have condemned this. The United Nations will investigate it (but will they side with Mugabe?) Over 200 Human Rights groups have protested against this action. The South African Govt and the African Union (replacement for the OAU) have refused to condemn or criticise any of this. Mugabe has publicly praised the Police for what they did. Take a look at the photos below and decide if you agree with this. The 26 photos I have assembled below are from many sources, including the BBC. Many of these photos had to be smuggled out of Zimbabwe secretly. (This page was compiled on: 26th June 2005. More information may yet come to light later on). Mugabe, in his typically deceptive manner, pretends that this is a "Cleanup" operation to "restore law and order." But the opposition MDC and Zimbabweans in general regard this as payback for voting against Mugabe. Since running the White Commercial Farmers off the Land, Zimbabwe's economy has imploded. Unemployment is now at 70%. Now Mugabe is turning on the Black majority because they refuse to support him. Rubble... a girl sits amid what's left of a business centre in Chitungwiza township in Zimbabwe. This is a still from video footage that had to be secretly filmed and smuggled out of the country.
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	(Source: The Star - Johannesburg - 24th June 2005)
	Satellite images of an area of Harare before and after Operation Murambatsvina The satellite images are from: www.digitalglobe.com Description: These 60-centimeter QuickBird images show the city of Harare, Zimbabwe and the effects of President Robert Mugabe’s “clean-up campaign” that involved the razing of shantytowns. This satellite photo shows a shanty town in the city of Harare. It was taken on April 16, 2005. The shiny tin roofs of the dwellings can be seen.
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	(Source: the Kubatana Newsletter of 24th June 2005)
	Here we see the same aread of Harare on June 04, 2005. No more sign of shiny tin roofs. Instead we see much evidence of burning & destruction
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	(Source: the Kubatana Newsletter of 24th June 2005)
	A woman watches her house being destroyed by earth moving equipment.
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	(Source: BBC News, 9th June.)
	June 3rd: Zimbabwe Riot Police watch as earth moving equipment destroy a home in a crackdown on illegal dwellings in the capital city Harare. President Mugabe claims the campaign is meant to get rid of structures that have sprouted around urban centres and are seen as a haven for illegal traders in foreign currency and scarce food items. (Translation: These people are engaging in Free Market Capitalism in order not to starve to death. But in Mugabe's country, this is a crime!)
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	(Source: www.zimbabwesituation.com\tragedypics.html)
	June 3rd: A Zimbabwean woman in Harare cries outside her destroyed home, which the Govt bulldozed.
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	(Source: www.zimbabwesituation.com\tragedypics.html)
	Boys watch a house being demolished.
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	(Source: BBC News, 9th June.)
	Nowhere to go... This photo of two orphans left homeless was sent by a BBC News website user.
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	(Source: BBC News, 9th June.)
	June 17th: Vendors try to save their belongings which were set on fire by the Police in Harare.
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	(Source: www.zimbabwesituation.com\tragedypics.html)
	A Riot Policeman stands nearby as earth moving equipment smashes homes. Note: The AK47 under the Policeman's arm.
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	(Source: BBC News, 9th June.)
	June 15th: Ruwa: (That's where I grew up! Jan) Tendai Ndoro & his brother Kuda sit outside their hut which was destroyed by Police.
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	(Source: www.zimbabwesituation.com\tragedypics.html)
	These are the before and after pictures of two homes destroyed in the Killarney area of Harare.
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	(Source: www.zimbabwesituation.com)
	These are the remains of a Muslim Mosque built in Harare's Hatcliffe township.
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	(Source: www.zimbabwesituation.com)
	The opposition say the move is punishment for areas which support them, but among the treasured possessions saved from this house is a portrait of President Robert Mugabe
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	(Source: BBC News, 9th June.)
	Even established businesses did not escape Mugabe's rampage and destruction. This business has been set on fire.
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	(Source: WWW.ZwNews.Com)
	Riot Police act against people protesting against Mugabe's actions.
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	(Sent to us by: TheBeardedMan Blogspot)
	Earth moving equipment amid the destruction it has caused.
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	(Sent to us by: TheBeardedMan Blogspot)
	Earth moving equipment smashing a pretty decent-looking house. Does this look like an informal shack to you? Mugabe clearly is not just wiping out the shacks, but also well-built buildings and homes which most people in Black Africa would love to own!
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	(Sent to us by: TheBeardedMan Blogspot)
	Here we see the same poor woman, from the earlier BBC photos appearing extremely agitated as the earth moving equipment rips her nice home apart. What crime did she commit to deserve this?
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	(Sent to us by: TheBeardedMan Blogspot)
	People flee with whatever they can save.
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	(Source: WWW.ZwNews.Com)
	June 10th: A truck carries the belongings of people who had their houses demolished in Harare. Most of those who lost their homes are relocating to the rural areas. Police have fought running battles with supporters of a general strike which was called to protest the Government campaign.
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	(Source: www.zimbabwesituation.com\tragedypics.html)
	The results: Everything in ruins... The US Govt and the European Union complained about this, but the African Union and the Govt of S.Africa refuse to condemn Mugabe or to express any type of outrage.
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	(Sent to us by: TheBeardedMan Blogspot)
	A child among the ruins.
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	(Sent to us by: TheBeardedMan Blogspot)
	June 14th: A boy collects wood from the rubble of a destroyed house on the outskirts of Harare. Zimbabwe's main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change attacked the crackdown as an attempt by President Mugabe to "wipe out the poor". It is generally accepted among Zimbabweans that this is payback by Mugabe for the Blacks who voted against him in March 2005.
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	(Source: www.zimbabwesituation.com\tragedypics.html)
	Another homeless child among the ruins.
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	(Sent to us by: TheBeardedMan Blogspot)
	June 15th: These women and children are seen outside Harare with what little belongings they could salvage.
	MUGABE_DESTRUCTION_26.JPG
	(Source: www.zimbabwesituation.com\tragedypics.html) What will Robert Mugabe get up to next? When will somebody try to overthrow this modern Hitler?

Posted By: Jan
AfricanCrisis Webmaster
Author of: Government by Deception

Date Posted: Monday 12-Oct-2009
to tell you the truth and after reading your excellent article about one of the worlds biggest dictators a name flashed to my mind that name is "EIDI AMIN" not only they look alike but the same stinky atitude they both have although im muslim and so was eidi amin except eidi was one our bad apples sadly

mr.salih
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