Bulawayo Deputy Mayor Edwin Ndlovu and four co-accused facing extortion charges have been further remanded to September 24, as investigators await forensic examination results.
Ndlovu is jointly charged with fellow councillors Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu, Mxolisi Mahlangu and Ashton Mhlanga, as well as former councillor and alderman Rodney Jele.
The four serving councillors are out on US$500 bail each, while Jele remains in custody after being denied bail.
The accused were arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) over allegations that they conspired to extort US$52,000 from a local businessman in connection with a council lease.
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They appeared before Bulawayo Provincial Magistrate Isheunesu Matova on Thursday.
Principal prosecutor Milton Moyo applied for the postponement, telling the court that ZACC investigators had sent exhibits to Harare for forensic examination and were awaiting the results.
“Investigators from ZACC sent some exhibits for forensic examination in Harare. We are waiting for the results and investigations to be concluded,” Moyo told the court.
Ndlovu is represented by Zibusiso Ncube of Ncube and Partners, while Mahlangu and Mhlanga are represented by Kholwani Ngwenya of TJ Mabhikwa and Partners. Jele is represented by Prince Butshe of Butshe and Associates.
According to the State papers, the case stems from a 50-year lease awarded by the Bulawayo City Council in 2023 to Mkhuze Global Investments, a company owned by the complainant, for the development of a hotel.
The State alleges that in August 2026, the accused connived to extort US$52,000 from the complainant to prevent the cancellation of the lease.
The court heard that Jele allegedly contacted the complainant and told him that other businesspeople were interested in the property.
The State alleges that on August 14, Jele facilitated a meeting between the complainant and the other accused at a local restaurant.
“At the meeting, the accused persons informed the complainant that another unidentified businessman was offering them US$52,000 to have Mkhuze Global Investments company lease cancelled and the site made available to him,” the court heard.
The complainant was allegedly told that he would have to match the US$52,000 offer to retain the site.
The State further alleges that the accused threatened to use their positions on the Sub-Committee on Allocation of Stands and Premises for Development to recommend cancellation of the lease if the money was not paid.
The complainant subsequently reported the matter to ZACC in Harare on August 21, leading to a trap being set.
On August 22, the complainant allegedly handed US$5,000 to Jele, who was arrested while allegedly counting the money at the complainant’s house.
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