Staff Reporter
Corruption has once again reared its ugly head within the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC)-led Bulawayo City Council, following the arrest of Deputy Mayor Edwin Ndlovu and Chairperson of the Council’s Finance and Development Committee, Councillor Mpumelelo Moyo by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).
The duo are facing allegations of soliciting for a US$20 000 bribe from a company seeking to invest in the city.
ZACC Communications Manager, Ms. Simiso Mlevu, confirmed the arrests, stating that Ndlovu, who serves as the Ward 8 Councillor, and Moyo, the Ward 26 Councillor, allegedly demanded the bribe from Labenmon Investments as a condition for facilitating land approval.
“The allegations are that the two councillors approached Labenmon Investments, demanding US$20 000 after the company received an offer letter for 5.6 hectares of land to establish a cement mixing plant,” Mlevu explained.
The case traces back to November 2023, when Labenmon Investments’ application for 10 hectares of land from the Bulawayo City Council was initially rejected.
The company reapplied in April 2024 and was eventually offered 5.6 hectares.
It was during this period that Ndlovu and Moyo allegedly demanded the payment from the company’s representative, Tsitsi Mapfumo, purportedly to be shared among 20 other council members involved in the approval process.
According to ZACC, a report was filed leading to the swift arrest of the two officials, who are currently being held at Mzilikazi Police Station and are expected to appear in court on Saturday.
Residents of Bulawayo have expressed outrage over the scandal, calling for law enforcement agencies to take firm action against corrupt officials within the council.
“This is deeply disappointing but not surprising. We have been witnessing a pattern of corruption in our local council for years. It is high time law enforcement steps in and cleans up this mess,” said a resident and community activist, Ms. Florence Ncube,
Another resident, Isaac Dube, of Ward 26, echoed similar sentiments, saying, “These people are supposed to be serving us, not enriching themselves at the expense of development. We want ZACC to arrest and prosecute every single one involved, regardless of their political affiliation. Enough is enough.”
As investigations continue, residents hope the arrests mark a turning point in rooting out corruption and restoring public confidence in local governance.
