Chronicle Editor
Vusumuzi Dube, Sunday News Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) says it will make more arrests, if need be, as it continues investigating the case of the Bulawayo Deputy Mayor, Councillor Edwin Ndlovu and Finance and Development Committee chairperson, Councillor Mpumelelo Moyo on a charge of bribery.
The duo was arrested last Thursday after demanding a US$20 000 “facilitation” fee from a cement investor to the city.
In an interview with Sunday News, Zacc Chairperson Mr Micheal Reza revealed that they had, in their possession, a list of 20 councillors which the two accused submitted to the investor — Labenmon Investments — claiming that each needed US$1 000 for passing the resolution after it was initially rejected.
Mr Reza said the arrest of the two councillors was just a tip of the iceberg as Zacc was ready to make more arrests relating to the case.
“The Deputy Mayor was taken in on allegations of bribery together with the chairperson of the Finance Committee of Bulawayo City Council. Allegations are that they gave land to a company and after awarding that company with a piece of land they then followed up demanding a bribe of US$20 000.
“The information that we have is to the effect that there are 20 councillors that wanted US$1 000 each, so they wanted US$20 000 in total. I can confirm that the list of the councillors was left with the complainant she was given and we have that as part of our evidence against the accused persons so that is what has happened,” said Mr Reza.
He said after demanding the bribe, the two accused councillors continued pestering the investor to release the US$20 000 bribe money.
“They (accused) were telling the investors that they were taking time (to give them the bribe money), so the complainant then approached Zacc and a trap was set up. It was a properly approved trap and they were subsequently arrested,” said Mr Reza.
He assured the residents of Bulawayo that the commission will deal with corruption.
“We want to assure the residents of Bulawayo that we are together in the fight against corruption. We are grateful that this piece of information was submitted to us and we have responded by ensuring that we cause the arrest of the two senior officials involved.
“If we get credible information we will act and arrest more people. We will stand by Bulawayo wherever there is corruption. The same message I also send to the rest of the country is that local authorities, rural district councils or any public or private institution where there is corruption, we will investigate that corruption and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book,” said Mr Reza.
Meanwhile, with Bulawayo councillors in the spotlight following the arrest of Councillors Ndlovu and Moyo, it has since emerged that the city fathers in July passed a motion that will see council committee chairpersons and their deputies stay in place till 2028.
Council standing committees are primarily guided by Section 96 of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15) with the City of Bulawayo having six such committees, namely Finance and Development, Health, Housing and Education, Environmental Management and Engineering Services, Future Water Supplies and Water Action, Town Lands and Planning and the General Purpose committees.
The local authority also has two ad-hoc committees; the business and investment and the audit committee and one sub-committee on the allocation of stands.
According to the Act, council can rotate council committees every August.
Traditionally, Bulawayo councillors have been rotating these committees to ensure that by the time their terms of office come to an end each councillor would have had a chance to contribute to all the committees.
However, it has since emerged that in July, Ward 17 Councillor Ashton Mhlanga moved a motion to have the current committees’ tenure extended to 2028.
The motion was accompanied by a list of 20 councillors who supported it.
“Notice is hereby given that at the forthcoming full council sitting on the 7th of August 2024. I, Councillor Ashton Mhlanga, shall propose the following motion. Whereas a special council sitting held in September 2023 duly elected chairpersons, deputy chairpersons, and members of committees for the 2023/24 Municipal year; and whereas the full council sitting on the 3rd of January 2024 duly appointed councillors to special boards.
“Recognising the directive issued by the Minister of Local Government, dated 22 April 2022, which mandates that all Mayors, Deputy Mayors, and Chairpersons of committees shall remain in office for a tenure of five years; considering that all committees have recently completed successful ‘look and learn’ visits and are now poised to implement their findings to enhance service delivery, desirous of maintaining continuity and minimising disruption to the provision of services.
“Be it resolved that the tenure of council committee members, deputy chairpersons, and chairpersons be extended until 2028; and be it further resolved that the tenure of councillors appointed to special boards be extended until 2028,” reads part of the motion.
The 20 councillors who signed and endorsed the motion include Councillors Ndlovu, Moyo, Mhlanga, Mxolisi Mahlangu (Ward 3), Dumisani Netha (Ward 14), Khalazani Ndlovu (Ward 10), Siboniso Moyo (PR), Thandiwe Moyo (Ward 7), Irene Moyo (PR), Vezina Mohamed (PR), Greater Gumede (Ward 16), Adrian Moyo (Ward 2) and Ntandoyenkosi Moyo (Ward 28).
Others who also signed the motion are Mercy Furanayi (PR), Ntombizodwa Khumalo (Ward 23), Aleck Ndlovu (Ward 25), Lizzy Sibanda (Ward 27), Roy Sekete (Ward 29), Muziwakibo Masuku (Ward 12), Susan Sithole (Ward 12), Nokuthula Sibanda (PR), Percy Nyathi (PR) and Sikhululekile Moyo (Ward 17).
Contacted for comment on the legality of the move by the councillors, director of communication and advocacy in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Mr Gabriel Masvora said; “It is legal if they have a resolution and it’s done in the interest of enhancing the performance of council.”
Bongani Ndlovu