Bulawayo Mayor, David Coltart, has called for a thorough and impartial investigation into bribery allegations levelled against Deputy Mayor Edwin Ndlovu and the Chairperson of the Council’s Finance and Development Committee Mpumelelo Moyo.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) arrested Ndlovu, who represents Ward 8, and Moyo, the Ward 26 councillor, on Thursday night.
The two are accused of demanding a $20 000 bribe from Labenmon Investments to facilitate approval for land to establish a cement mixing plant.
In a post on his X account Friday morning, Coltart confirmed being briefed about the arrests by Town Clerk Christopher Dube, expressing his commitment to accountability and due process.
“This morning I was advised that the Deputy Mayor of Bulawayo, Cllr Edwin Ndlovu, and the Chairperson of the BCC Finance Committee, Cllr Mpumelelo Moyo, were arrested last night on allegations of corruption,” the mayor wrote.
“I was not aware of these allegations prior to the Town Clerk briefing me this morning. I await further information, but the law must take its course.”
The mayor reiterated his administration’s commitment to upholding ethical governance and eradicating corruption,
“I call for a thorough and fair investigation of these allegations. From the outset of my term as Mayor, I have stated that we must adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption,” Coltart said.
“But allegations such as these must be investigated and tried through a fair, independent, and professional judiciary.”
The allegations against the deputy mayor and Chairperson of the BCC Finance Committee stem from an incident in November 2023, when Labenmon Investments initially applied for 10 hectares of land for the plant but was unsuccessful.
The company reapplied in April 2024 and was allocated 5.6 hectares.
After Labenmon Investments received an offer letter, Ndlovu and Moyo allegedly approached the company’s representative, Tsitsi Mapfumo, demanding $20 000 in cash, purportedly on behalf of 20 other councillors, for facilitating the approval.
A report was subsequently made to ZACC, leading to the arrests.
The two councillors are being held at Mzilikazi Police Station and are scheduled to appear at Tredgold Magistrates Court on November 16, 2024.
Both Ndlovu and Moyo have yet to comment on the charges.
