Bulawayo, Zimbabwe — The Bulawayo High Court has granted US$100 bail to Deputy Mayor Edwin Ndlovu and Councillor Mpumelelo Moyo, who are facing allegations of soliciting a US$20,000 bribe in connection with a land allocation deal.
Justice Ngoni Nduna, who presided over the matter, imposed strict conditions for their release. Both officials were ordered to reside at their declared home addresses, surrender their passports, and report weekly to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC). Additionally, Councillor Moyo, who chairs the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) Finance Development Committee, was required to surrender the title deeds to his house as part of the bail conditions.
The two appeared before Bulawayo Magistrate Shepherd Mjanja on Friday, where their case was remanded to December 13, 2024, for further proceedings.
The Allegations
According to state representative Brenda Nyoni, the charges stem from events that occurred between October 10 and November 14, 2024. During this period, Ndlovu and Moyo allegedly demanded a US$20,000 bribe from Tsitsi Mapfumo, the coordinator of Labenmon Investments (Private) Limited, a Chinese company. The bribe was allegedly solicited as a “reward” for facilitating the allocation of 5.6 hectares of land in the Umvumil Industrial area, intended for the construction of a cement mixing plant.
Nyoni explained that the company, through Mapfumo, had initially applied for 10 hectares of land in November 2023 but was informed by the Town Planner, Mr. Mkhwebu, that no land was available. A second application was submitted in April 2024 with more details about the project. On October 10, 2024, the council approved the allocation of 5.6 hectares for the project.
Following the allocation, Councillor Moyo allegedly visited Mapfumo at her residence, informing her that BCC councillors expected a “reward” for facilitating the decision. Moyo reportedly followed up with two phone calls before visiting Mapfumo again with Deputy Mayor Ndlovu. The pair allegedly demanded US$20,000, explaining that the funds were to be distributed among 20 councillors, with each receiving US$1,000.
Nyoni told the court, “Ndlovu listed the names of the 20 councillors and left the list with the complainant. Feeling pressured by their demands, Mapfumo reported the matter to ZACC. A trap was set, leading to the arrest of the accused.”
Bail Conditions and Case Progress
As part of their bail conditions, Ndlovu and Moyo are required to maintain regular contact with ZACC and remain within their declared residences until further notice. Their next court appearance is scheduled for December 13, 2024, as investigations continue into the allegations of corruption and bribery.
This high-profile case has drawn significant public attention, highlighting ongoing concerns about corruption in local governance and the allocation of public resources. Further updates are expected as the case progresses.
This is a developing story.