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Amnesty criticises Mugabe's government

Robert Mugabe - Government razed slums
Robert Mugabe - Government razed slums

Amnesty International has condemned Zimbabwe's government for failing to rebuild houses for thousands of people it left homeless after a controversial slum demolition campaign over a year ago.

President Robert Mugabe's government used police and bulldozers to clear slums and what it called illegal markets in an urban clean-up blitz, which the United Nations says destroyed the homes or sources of income for about 700,000 people.

In a statement, Amnesty International branded a government housing construction programme meant to help the victims of the slum demolitions a public relations exercise designed to mask 'mass human rights violations'.