HARARE - Local Government deputy minister Sessel Zvidzai has come face-to-face with homeless Epworth residents whose houses were demolished last week by Sunway City (Pvt) Ltd, a subsidiary of the Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe.

Zvidzai met the affected residents yesterday but could not address them due to high tensions.

Last week, close to 200 Epworth families were left homeless after police razed down their homes at the instigation of Sunway City (Pvt) Ltd, which says it owns the piece of land they had occupied.

Some of the residents claim they bought the land from a gang suspected to be headed by senior Zanu PF officials, only to later realise they were duped.

“The only thing we want is accommodation,” one of the victims told Zvidzai.

Some of the residents have already started rebuilding their demolished homes, a development which could land them in trouble for contempt of court.

Zvidzai said instead of demolishing people’s homes, police should arrest those who sold council land illegally.

He said in as much as land invasion was criminal, council should try not to be hard on poor people who could have been cheated by conmen. - Staff Writer