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Sifundiso Ndlovu Chronicle Reporter
BULAWAYO City Council yesterday evicted 20 more families from its Hyde Park Estate while those ejected on Friday and dumped at Khami sewer works continued living in the open.
When a news crew visited the farm yesterday afternoon, a lorry full of the evicted occupants was leaving the                                            property.

Some of the evicted families claimed that they had been settled on the land by Zanu-PF Ward 16 chairman Cde Josphat Nyoni, who however denied the claims.

Cde Nyoni told Chronicle that the people were granted permission to occupy the property by an official from Umguza Rural District Council. It could not be ascertained yesterday whether the official, named as Masiyiwa actually worked for the council or was just an imposter.

Cde Nyoni said in connection with yesterday’s eviction, he asked council to take people to their preferred destinations after the municipality dumped some, such as one identified only as Mlalazi was taken to Gadade about 40Km away without any apparent reason.
“About twenty families were evicted today. We had talked to the council to move the families to their preferred destination instead of dumping them in the open,” said Cde Nyoni.
“The occupants however said they were rightfully resettled by officials from Umguza Rural District Council. We went back to Umguza Rural District Council and they said they will look at the map and see if the area falls under within their jurisdiction.

“Those people were resettled here by Masiyiwa. We don’t understand why some people should have their homes destroyed without notice and dumped in the open without alternative land.”

Bulawayo Mayor Martin Moyo could not be drawn to comment saying he was in a meeting.
The group which was dumped at Khami sewer works on Friday was however, still stranded and living in the open yesterday.

One of them, Joshua Ndlovu said he wanted to go to Lupane and the council officials declined to move him and his family of six saying they only transported those who live locally in Bulawayo.
“As you can see we are still stranded here with the children. They refused to move us saying they only moved those that live around Bulawayo,” said Ndlovu.
He said the council has been moving the evicted people from morning.
The local authority started evicting the occupants on Friday and by Tuesday, 72 households had  been evicted.