Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku
BULAWAYO Deputy Mayor Councillor Edwin Ndlovu walked out of court a free man after he was acquitted of allegations that he demanded a US$20 000 bribe from a representative of Lebanon Investments in a deal linked to a commercial stand.
Ndlovu, who was jointly charged with Councillor Mpumelelo Moyo, breathed a sigh of relief when magistrate Richard Ramaboea ruled that the State had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court tore apart the State’s key exhibit — a handwritten document that was supposed to tie Ndlovu to the alleged bribe scheme. Forensic handwriting expert Kurauone Madziranyika claimed the samples matched Ndlovu’s handwriting, but contradictions emerged when Lebanon Investments representative Tsitsi Mapfumo admitted she had written part of the document.
“The only evidence linking the accused to the offence was exhibit number five. Yet the expert concluded the whole document was written by one person. If we accept that, then both the accused and the witness share the same handwriting, which is impossible,” blasted the magistrate.
It was also noted that Ndlovu never phoned or met the complainant and was arrested while visiting his co-accused, Cllr Mpumelelo Moyo, at a police station.
Represented by lawyer Zibusiso Ncube of Ncube and Partners, the deputy mayor maintained throughout the trial that he had never met Mapfumo until they saw each other in court.
With Ndlovu now off the hook, the spotlight shifts to Councillor Moyo who will be back in the dock on 25 May. Moyo, represented by Prince Butshe of Butshe and Associates, is accused of being caught clutching an envelope stuffed with trap money disguised as US$20 000 at Mapfumo’s house.
The court heard that Moyo allegedly phoned Mapfumo several times demanding money, leaving her under pressure until she reported him to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission. A sting operation followed, leading to his dramatic arrest.
