16 July 2007

A secret report leaked to The Zimbabwe Times this week, prepared by a government official early this year, shows that Mugabe last year diverted over 2 000 bags of cement meant for the victims of the operation to build his mansion in Harare’s leafy suburb of Borrowdale.

The cement was transported from Hopley Farm, just outside Harare, to Mugabe’s residence on different occasions. "Please take note that 1 150 bags (of cement) have gone to the President’s residence in Borrowdale," says the report by dated March this year.

The report entitled "Cement Quantities and Usage" was complied by Engineer Tobias Chombe, a site planner at Hopley Farm. It covers the period between January 2005 and February this year and was prepared from records by N.G. Security, a firm that offers security at Hopley settlement, as well as the stock books of Operation Garikai staff.

While Mugabe is already living in the comfort of his mansion, thousands of families whose houses were destroyed by the internationally-condemned operation are still staying in the open countrywide.

A victim of the clean-up exercise, Cecilia Munapo, who stays in a shack at Hopley Farm, has lost hope of been given a home by government. "It’s more than two years and we are still waiting. I don’t know if we will ever be allocated a house," she said.

In May 2005 the government of Zimbabwe embarked on Operation Murambatsvina, (drive out filth) a programme of mass forced evictions and demolition of homes and informal livelihoods. The operation, which was carried out in winter and against a backdrop of severe food shortages, targeted urban areas countrywide.

In a report released on July 22, 2005, the special envoy of the Secretary-General of the UN, Anna Tibaijuka, estimated that some 700,000 people lost their homes, their livelihoods, or both during the operation. In contrast, Mugabe’s mansion, said to be his retirement home, rivals the most extravagant of African leaders' residences.

Surveyors in Harare estimated the building cost at about £3.75 million - a colossal sum in a country where factory workers can earn as little as £6 a month. Final costs, including landscaping, security and interior decoration are expected to push the bill close to £6 million.

The residence offers more than three acres of accommodation, mostly on three floors, including two-storey reception rooms, an office suite, and up to 25 bedrooms with adjoining bathrooms and spas. The Chinese-style roof is clad with midnight blue glazed tiles from Shanghai. The ceilings were decorated by Arab craftsmen.

Mugabe’s mansion is more than three times the size of his present official residence and his offices at State House. Recently, Mugabe bought out houses of his neighbours, and last week evicted about 300 families at a farm near his mansion citing security reasons.

The 83-year-old leader has increased security around him. The road to his private home is guarded round the clock by heavily armed soldiers. At his official residence, armed soldiers and secret agents mill around while the road that passes through is closed to the public between 6 pm and 6 am.

This is not the first time that the First Family has benefited from projects meant for the poor. In 1994 Mugabe’s extravagant wife, Grace, benefited from the pay-for-your-scheme, a programme meant for lowly-paid civil servants, and later built a massive house, which later became known as the "Gracelands".

After exposure in the media, she sold it, and it ended up in the hands of Libyan diplomats. Cabinet ministers have also been accused of plundering public resources. Tonnes of construction material were allegedly looted by senior government officials to build their houses while some was sold on the black market.

The secret report also says about 400 bags of cement, which were at Hopley, were said to have been loaned to Chikurubi Maximum Prison and later returned. But the report noted that consignment was never received back at Hopley. "400 bags said to have gone to Chikurubi. This amount was loaned to (ZPS) Zimbabwe Prison Services. Of interest is the issue that the cement was returned when in actual fact it was not," says the report.

The sources said the cement was taken from Hopley on the pretext that it was going to be used to build houses for people affected by the operation. "It’s not only cement that was looted by senior officials. They took diesel and other building materials, which they sold on the black market. It involves senior officials, that’s why is it taking long to investigate," said one source.

Some of the cement was recorded as having been transported from Manyuchi Dam Project in Masvingo to Harare. "But surprisingly the record show that on 1st and 2nd, November the same cement was transported back to Masvingo," says the report. While the alleged looting is said to be continuing, construction of houses for the victims of the Murambatsvina at Hopley, Whitecliff and other sites countrywide has ground to a halt.

At least 365 families are still staying in shacks at Hopley. "The 365 families are still staying in the open. I again pray for your authorization for us to allocate them stands," says the report. The minister of local government, public works and urban development Ignatius Chombo, whose ministry is responsible for Operation Garikai, could not be reached for comment.- The Zimbabwe Times.

Nehanda Radio: Zimbabwe's first 24 hour internet radio news channel.

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.nehandaradio.com