Who are the Murambatsivina that Comrade Melusi talks about in Fathers of Nations?
Murambatsivina, also known as Operation Restore Order, was a campaign of forced evictions and demolitions carried out by the Zimbabwean government in May 2005. The operation resulted in the internal displacement of an estimated 570,000 people and the destruction of homes and businesses across the country.
The stated purpose of Murambatsivina was to crack down on crime and clean up urban areas. However, the operation was widely criticized for its brutality and lack of due process. Many of those who were evicted were given little or no notice, and their homes and belongings were often destroyed without compensation. The operation also had a devastating impact on the livelihoods of many Zimbabweans, as many of those who were evicted lost their homes and businesses.
Murambatsivina was condemned by the United Nations and other human rights organizations. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Housing called the operation a "catastrophe" and said that it had violated the human rights of hundreds of thousands of people.
The effects of Murambatsivina are still being felt today. Many of those who were evicted are still living in displacement camps, and they continue to struggle to access basic necessities such as food, water, and shelter. The operation also had a significant impact on the Zimbabwean economy, as it destroyed businesses and disrupted livelihoods.