Bulawayo’s deputy mayor, Edwin Ndlovu, and councillor Mpumelelo Moyo, were arrested on Thursday night on allegations of soliciting a US$20,000 bribe. The arrest, confirmed by Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) spokesperson Simiso Mlevu, follows an investigation into claims of corruption related to the approval of a cement factory project. The two are expected to appear in court on Saturday.
The alleged bribery involved Labenmon Investments, a company seeking to establish a cement factory near Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park suburb. The company’s initial application for 10 hectares of land, submitted in November last year, was rejected by councillors citing concerns about potential health hazards for residents due to cement dust. However, in April this year, a revised application for 5.6 hectares received approval.
It was following this approval that the alleged bribery attempt took place. According to ZACC spokesperson Simiso Mlevu, “They were arrested soon after receiving trap money from Tsisi Mapfumo of Labenmon Investments.” Mlevu revealed that Ndlovu and Moyo, who chairs the finance and development committee, approached Mapfumo claiming to represent 20 councillors and demanding US$20,000 for facilitating the approval of the cement factory application.
The arrest was the culmination of a carefully planned operation by ZACC investigators. The two councillors were lured to Mapfumo’s house on Thursday night under the guise of collecting the bribe money. The trap was sprung, and the pair were apprehended shortly after receiving the marked cash. This operation highlights the effectiveness of ZACC’s investigative capabilities in tackling corruption within local government structures.
