‘Operation Garakai’ just another government embarrassment!
The government promised to build 5 000 houses by the end of this month (initial deadline was July but that was moved back to end of August) to help alleviate the humanitarian crises that it created by carrying out ‘Operation Maratsvimba’. It seems the only thing in sight now is d-day!
Reports from most areas around the country say that the construction of housing has either not yet started or is happening very slowly. The few ‘houses’ that have actually materialised are incomplete. Sewerage pipes, electricity lines and water access have not been installed which leaves these premises uninhabitable. On visiting one of the building sites last week, a reporter was told that construction had been halted because of lack of fuel and cement, although both prison inmates and members of the youth brigade (green bombers) were seen clearing land.
With the impossible target of 5000 houses on an inadequate budget, it seems that the government has become quite resourceful with cutting costs. A few weeks ago we heard how street vendors were ‘detained’, taken to these building sites and forced to do manual labour. No formal charges were made against the vendors - the police station and court house were simply bypassed. Consuming alcohol in Zim also has its unique hazards. Apparently an accusation of consuming alcohol in a public place will now also lead straight to the construction sites for a bit of manual labour - all saving the government a buck here and there in wages.
With the severe shortage of fuel, cement and other building materials it looks like mugabe and his cronies are going to have egg on their faces again. More empty promises that simply cannot be kept!
I for one am going to be counting down the days. 9 days to d-day and, by the sounds of it, about 5000 houses behind schedule! That makes the new target approximately 555 houses a day, oh… and let’s not forget that we still have no fuel. This is Zimbabwe and one thing that we have all learned over the past five years is that we never say never, so, you go boys, go!
January 21st, 2007 08:43
With the severe shortage of fuel, cement and other building materials it looks like mugabe and his cronies are going to have egg on their faces again. More empty promises that simply cannot be kept!