Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, Court Reporter
FORMER Bulawayo city councillor, Alderman Rodney Jele, who was previously denied bail by the lower court, has been granted bail by the High Court pending trial.
Jele was legally represented by Mr Kholwane Ngwenya of TJ Mabhikwa and Partners during a successful appeal heard on Tuesday before Bulawayo High Court Judge, Justice Bongani Ndlovu.
In his ruling, Justice Ndlovu upheld the appeal, stating: “The decision of Provincial Magistrate Mr Isheunesu Mathoba to refuse him bail is hereby set aside and substituted with an order admitting the appellant to bail pending trial on a charge of extortion.”
Jele’s co-accused—Deputy Mayor Edwin Ndlovu, Councillor Mxolisi Mahlangu, Councillor Ashton Mhlanga, and Councillor Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu—were also granted bail pending trial subject to stringent conditions. The four serving councillors were ordered to surrender their passports, reside at their given residential addresses, and report to designated police stations in Bulawayo three times a week until the criminal matter is finalised. Both Jele and his co-accused are expected back in court on 24 September 2026.
The criminal allegations stem from a 50-year commercial lease agreement granted by the Bulawayo City Council to Mkhuze Global Investments in March 2023 for the development of a local hotel. The State alleges that the four serving councillors, acting in cahoots with former councillor Jele, later demanded a payout of US$52 000 from the local businessman in connection with the lease.
State prosecutor Mr Pedzisai told the court that the accused persons approached the businessman in August this year and informed him that rival businesspeople were heavily interested in the commercial stand.
“In August this year, the accused persons approached the businessman and told him that other businesspeople were interested in the stand and were prepared to pay US$52 000 to have his lease cancelled,” said Mr Pedzisai.
The businessman was told that he had to match the US$52 000 payment if he wished to retain his hotel lease. He subsequently approached the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), which launched an undercover sting operation.
The anti-graft operation culminated in Jele’s arrest after the complainant handed over the demanded US$52 000. Jele was caught red-handed while counting the money at the complainant’s house. Following his initial arrest, his lower court application for bail was dismissed by the provincial magistrate, forcing him to remain in custody until the successful High Court appeal.
