Operation Murambatsvina

Zimbabwean history

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July 19, 2026

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Operation Murambatsvina, meaning "Operation Restore Order" or "Operation Drive Out Filth" in Shona, was a controversial cleanup campaign launched by the Zimbabwean government in 2005. This operation involved the destruction of thousands of homes and businesses in shantytowns around Harare and other urban centers.12

The campaign resulted in the displacement of over half a million people. Critics of the government, including the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), alleged that Operation Murambatsvina was a politically motivated punitive measure targeting supporters of the opposition, who were predominantly located in these shantytowns. The operation drew significant international criticism and condemnation.12

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Zimbabwe
Increasing discord
…election, the government launched “Operation Murambatsvina,” a cleanup campaign that destroyed thousands of homes and stores in shantytowns on the outskirts of Harare and other urban centres. More than half a million people were displaced, and critics of the government claimed that this was a punitive measure aimed at…
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…election, the government launched “Operation Murambatsvina,” a cleanup campaign that destroyed thousands of homes and stores in shantytowns on the outskirts of Harare and other urban centres. More than half a million people were displaced, and critics of the government claimed that this was a punitive measure aimed at…
Read More