Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku [email protected]
THE matter involving Bulawayo Deputy Mayor, Councillor Edwin Ndlovu, and his four co-accused, who allegedly conspired to extort US$52 000 from a local businessman to facilitate the issuance of a lease, has been postponed to 24 September.
The Deputy Mayor appeared before Bulawayo Provincial Magistrate, Mr Isheunesu Mathoba, alongside Cllr Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu, Cllr Mxolisi Mahlangu, Cllr Ashton Mhlanga and former Cllr Rodney Jele, charged with extortion and, alternatively, bribery.
Principal Prosecutor, Mr Milton Moyo, applied for a postponement, stating that investigators from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) had sent exhibits for forensic examination in Harare, and that they were awaiting the results and the conclusion of investigations.
The Deputy Mayor is represented by Mr Zibusiso Ncube of Ncube and Partners, while Mahlangu and Mhlanga are represented by Mr Kholwani Ngwenya of TJ Mabhikwa and Partners. The three are on US$500 bail each.
Jele, who was denied bail, is represented by Mr Prince Butshe of Butshe and Associates.
Prosecuting, Mr Moyo said former councillor Rodney Jele conspired to extort US$52 000 from a local businessman in connection with a 50-year lease granted by the Bulawayo City Council for a proposed hotel development.
“The lease was awarded in March 2023 to Mkhuze Global Investments, a company owned by the complainant, for the development of the hotel.
“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 Moyo.
According to the State, the businessman was allegedly instructed to match the US$52 000 if he wanted to retain the lease rights.
The allegations prompted him to report the matter to ZACC, which subsequently mounted an undercover operation. The operation allegedly culminated in the arrest of former councillor Jele after the complainant handed over US$5 000 as part of the allegedly demanded amount.
Jele was allegedly arrested while counting the money at the complainant’s residence. Prosecutors have previously indicated that they intend to rely on witness statements, communications between the accused persons and the complainant, as well as evidence relating to the money allegedly exchanged during the operation.
Deputy Mayor Ndlovu and his co-accused councillors were also remanded in custody to the same date. The latest case comes less than a year after Deputy Mayor Ndlovu was acquitted of separate corruption allegations involving an alleged US$26 000 bribe linked to a proposed cement-mixing plant in Bulawayo.
