Photo and text: Shepherd Tozvireva
In 2005 the Zimbabwean government destroyed thousands of houses in the suburbs of Harare without giving the occupants alternative accommodation. One of them then was Malvern Muhlanga, an ordinary 22 year old Zimbabwean. Four years later photographer Shepherd Tozvireva followed Malvern and his family as they try to settle again at the ground where they once used to live.
According to a UN report Operation Murambatsvina (“drive out trash”) cost some 700,000 Zimbabweans their homes or livelihoods or both and otherwise affected nearly a fifth of the troubled country's population. Its impact produced a political shock that has returned Zimbabwe to the international spotlight.
Malvern Muhulanga: “ In 2005 I was living in Kuwanzana 5 suburbs in Harare. This is where I am now as well. My conditions then were better because I was paying some money to city council for electricity and water. As you can see, here is no water and electricity nor toilets, we have to fetch water from near suburbs. More victims of Murambatsvina like me, decided to go back to our old ‘neighborhoud.’ Right now there are about 20 families living here like this. I have one child, a 2 year old daughter. Right after I found myself homeless I went to the near suburbs to rent, but then I as chased away in 2008 for failing to pay rent. After that I decided to go back to that same open area to built this ‘make shift’. This house is some 20km away from Harare City Centre. That is the place where I work as a security guard.
In 2005 the Zimbabwean government destroyed thousands of houses in the suburbs of Harare without giving the occupants alternative accommodation. One of them then was Malvern Muhlanga, an ordinary 22 year old Zimbabwean. Four years later photographer Shepherd Tozvireva followed Malvern and his family as they try to settle again at the ground where they once used to live.
AFCON: 46 hurt in Zambia victory celebrations09/02
African Peer Review Mechanism making progress08/02
Combating HIV infections among African women08/02
Legume cultivation booms in Western Kenya07/02
Malawi vendors chase out Chinese07/02
Zim: Informal sector urged to join HIV battle05/02
Elections: Wole Soyinka warns Mugabe, Wade03/02
AU elections rescheduled for June in Malawi01/02
