The Deputy Mayor of Bulawayo, Edwin Ndlovu, and the Chairperson of the Council’s Finance and Development Committee, Councillor Mpumelelo Moyo, have been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) in connection with bribery allegations.
The two senior councillors are accused of demanding a bribe from a company seeking approval for land to establish a cement mixing plant in the city.
According to ZACC Communications Manager, Ms. Simiso Mlevu, the pair allegedly demanded US$20,000 from Labenmon Investments, a company that had applied for land from the Bulawayo City Council. Ndlovu, the Councillor for Ward 8, and Moyo, the Councillor for Ward 26, are said to have made the demand in return for facilitating the approval of land for the company’s proposed project.
The incident dates back to November 2023 when Labenmon Investments, represented by Tsitsi Mapfumo, submitted an unsuccessful application for 10 hectares of land to the council. However, in April 2024, the company resubmitted its application and was offered 5.6 hectares of land. It is at this point that Ndlovu and Moyo allegedly approached Mapfumo, requesting a reward of US$20,000 for securing the land approval. The two councillors reportedly claimed that the payment was to be shared among 20 other Bulawayo City Council councillors.
“After Labenmon Investments received the offer letter for the land, the accused allegedly approached Ms. Mapfumo, demanding a reward of US$20,000 on behalf of 20 other councillors,” Ms. Mlevu stated.
Upon receiving the information, Labenmon Investments reported the matter to ZACC, prompting the investigation and subsequent arrests of Ndlovu and Moyo. The two councillors are currently being held at Mzilikazi Police Station and are expected to appear in court on Saturday, facing charges of bribery and abuse of office.
The arrests of the senior councillors have raised concerns about corruption in local government, particularly in relation to the approval of land deals and investment projects. The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has vowed to continue its efforts to root out corruption within both local and national government institutions.
As the case unfolds, the public will be closely watching for further developments, particularly regarding the involvement of other councillors allegedly implicated in the bribery scheme.
The ZACC continues to call on the public to report any corruption-related activities and has pledged to take swift action against those who attempt to exploit their positions for personal gain.
