A scandal is unfolding in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, involving corruption allegations against two top city officials. Bulawayo Deputy Mayor Edwin Ndlovu and Councillor Mpumelelo Moyo, chairperson of the Finance and Development Committee, have been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on bribery charges.

Ndlovu and Moyo allegedly demanded a $20,000 bribe from Labenmon Investments, a Chinese company seeking to build a cement mixing plant in Cowdray Park. The company initially applied for 10 hectares of land in November 2023 but was denied due to environmental concerns. After resubmitting their application in April 2024, they were allocated 5.6 hectares of land. Following the allocation, Ndlovu and Moyo reportedly demanded the bribe as a “reward” for facilitating project approval.

A forensic handwriting expert testified that Ndlovu’s handwriting matches the writing on a document detailing the bribe. ZACC conducted a sting operation, arresting Ndlovu and Moyo at Labenmon representative Tsitsi Mapfumo’s residence after they allegedly took possession of the bribe money.

The trial is ongoing, with Ndlovu and Moyo facing serious corruption allegations. If convicted, they could face severe penalties under Zimbabwe’s anti-corruption laws. The court will determine whether the evidence presented is sufficient to prove their guilt.

The arrest has sent shockwaves through the city, raising serious questions about the integrity of local government officials. Ndlovu and Moyo were granted bail, with strict conditions imposed by Justice Ngoni Nduna, including reporting weekly to ZACC and surrendering their passports.

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