Ward 3 Councillor, Mxolisi Mahlangu and Ward 15 Councillor, Ashton Mhlanga, have been formally charged and arrested after they handed themselves over to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) offices in Bulawayo on Wednesday morning.
Their lawyer, Nqobani Sithole, said the duo is set to appear in court on Thursday.
The two councilors are accused of acting in cahoots with the deputy mayor, Ward 8 Cllr Edwin Ndlovu, Ward 28 Councillor Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu and former Ward 22 councillor, Alderman Rodney Jele, who have already appeared in court.
“The two councilors who were being sought after by the ZACC have presented themselves and were formally charged with extortion. They were subsequently arrested,” he said in an interview.
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“They are set to appear in court tomorrow, where we will do all the necessary procedures including applying for bail. We will have further information as the court case progresses.”
ZACC alleges that the councillors sought US$52,000 from a local businessman to prevent the cancellation of a lease signed in March 2023.
The commission says they told the businessman that an unnamed rival investor was prepared to pay US$52,000 to have the lease cancelled and that he would have to match the amount to retain the lease.
The businessman reported the matter to ZACC, and a trap was set, leading to their arrest.
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