Online Reporter
Peter Matika, [email protected]
BULAWAYO deputy mayor Councillor Edwin Ndlovu, Ward 28 councillor Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu and former Ward 22 councillor Rodney Jele yesterday challenged the State’s bid to have them remanded in custody over allegations that they extorted US$52 000 from a local businessman.
The three appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Isheunesu Matova for their initial appearance and were remanded in custody to today for a ruling on bail application.
The State is opposing bail, arguing that the gravity of the allegations, the evidence gathered so far and the accused persons’ positions within the city council create a risk of absconding, interference with witnesses and tampering with evidence.
Clr Edwin Ndlovu and Clr Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu, through their lawyer, Mr Kholwani Ngwenya, argued that the allegations against them did not hold water as they were both not directly involved in the alleged transaction and should therefore not be remanded in custody.
Mr Prince Butshe Dube, who is representing Jele, also challenged the manner in which his client was arrested and handled by investigators.
The State alleges that Jele, whose term as a Bulawayo councillor ended in 2023, was aware of the history of a hotel development project involving Mkhuze Global Investments, a company owned by the complainant.
According to the State, Bulawayo City Council had in 2023 resolved to award the company a 50-year lease over Stand 18637 for the construction of a hotel, with the lease commencing on March 1, 2023.
The State alleges that the development subsequently encountered delays arising from funding challenges, changes in hotel operators, currency fluctuations, changes in professional teams, redesigns, restructuring of the company’s ownership and changes to its development and procurement model.
It is the State’s case that in August this year, the three accused persons allegedly connived to extort US$52 000 from the businessman.
The prosecution alleges that Jele, who allegedly knew the history of the lease and hotel project, acted together with the two serving councillors and approached the complainant, telling him that another businessman was interested in the property and was prepared to build the proposed hotel.
The State alleges that on August 14, Jele facilitated a meeting between the complainant, himself and the other two accused persons at a lodge in Matsheumhlope suburb.
At that meeting, the trio allegedly told the complainant that an unnamed businessman was offering them US$52 000 to have Mkhuze Global Investments’ lease cancelled and the site made available to him.
The complainant was allegedly told that he would have to match the US$52 000 if he wanted to retain the site and continue with the existing lease.
It was further alleged that the accused persons claimed they would use their positions in the council’s sub-committee on allocation of stands and premises for development to ensure that a scheduled meeting on August 19 recommended cancellation of the lease.
They allegedly went further to tell the complainant that such a recommendation would subsequently be ratified by a full council meeting expected in September.
The State alleges that pressure was thereafter repeatedly applied on the complainant to produce the money.
The businessman reported the matter to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) in Harare on August 21 leading to the setting of a trap.
On August 22, US$5 000 in trap money was handed to Jele and he was arrested while allegedly counting the money at the complainant’s house.
The trap money was recovered leading to the arrest of the other accused persons.
The allegations also implicate two other Bulawayo councillors, who are yet to present themselves to Zacc.
The case comes barely a year after Clr Edwin Ndlovu was acquitted in a separate high-profile corruption case where he faced allegations linked to his role as a councillor.
He was acquitted after the State failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
