Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, Court Writer
WARD 26 Councillor Mpumelelo Moyo, who has been facing bribery charges for demanding US$20 000 from Labenmon Investments in exchange for land to construct a cement mixing plant in Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park suburb, was yesterday sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Moyo was convicted of bribery by Bulawayo provincial magistrate, Mr Richard Ramaboea. He will serve an effective 12 months in jail after six months were suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within that period.
In passing the sentence, the magistrate said he researched widely about the cases involving public office bearers, who committed bribery and did not find any sentencing that was non-custodial.
He also said bribery is a serious crime and the Government is fighting hard to fight it.
Moyo was arrested soon after receiving US$20 000 trap money from Ms Tsitsi Nyathi, Labenmon Investments’ representative, who was the complainant in the matter.
In mitigation through his lawyer, Mr Prince Butshe of Butshe and Associates, Moyo pleaded for leniency, saying he was a breadwinner taking care of his wife and two minor children. He also told the court that he is a first-time offender and would not be involved in corruption again if given a chance.
Moyo was initially charged along with Bulawayo deputy mayor, Councillor Edwin Ndlovu, who has since been acquitted of the same charges after the State failed to provide evidence directly linking him to the offence.
According to the State, Moyo, chair of the Finance and Development Committee, solicited the bribe from Labenmon Investments in exchange for facilitating the approval of 5, 6 Hectare piece of land in Cowdray Park suburb, where the company intended to construct a cement mixing plant.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission officers arrested Moyo shortly after receiving the money from Ms Nyathi at her house, after she had set a trap.
Ms Nyathi lured Moyo to her house to collect US$20 000. Moyo claimed that a total of 20 councillors facilitated the approval of the land, and they each wanted US$1 000 for that.
derick.khumalo