Squatter Camp Demolished

Our Bulawayo correspondent sends us these pictures:

These are photos of the Killarney squatter camp this last weekend (12 June). The police came in on Saturday and demolished the houses (which were really little more than shacks) and then burned them. People were left out in the open with no shelter - remember it is winter here - and very fearful. The police also threatened to come back with dogs and horses on the Monday to remove anyone who was left.



From Saturday onwards, the churches (mainly) moved in to remove as many people as possible. Those with bakkies (4X4 style vehicles) came in and helped, and since then a number of larger trucks have been in. We also are in the middle of a serious fuel crisis, with very little diesel around, so that makes the transport situation even worse.



The problem is - understandably - that people will not move without their possessions - including roofing sheets, beds etc. Some people have nowhere else to go, others could go to their rural homes, but transport there would be beyond their means.

Many of the churches, including ours, have opened their church halls to them, and the people are camped there until a more permanent solution can be found. This is a humanitarian crisis of huge proportions. I am sending you a letter from an MDC MP in Harare, where a similar situation prevails - that gives some of the background.

Please pray - please put it on your prayer chain - please email congressmen - these people are desperate, and it is all so unnecessary. How long, O Lord?

One real thing to give thanks for, though, is the response of individual churches and many many Christians (as well as others, of course) - it has been heart warming to see.