Call for more arrests to stamp out corruption

Bulawayo is facing a corruption scandal within its city council, with land developers revealing that they have long been forced to pay bribes to city councillors to secure contracts. The allegations come in the wake of recent arrests of Deputy Mayor Councillor Edwin Ndlovu and Chairperson of the Finance Committee Clr Mpumelelo Moyo, both of whom are accused of engaging in corrupt practices.

Contractors who spoke to Sunday News but requested to remain anonymous have urged the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) to dig deeper into the corruption allegations, revealing that the practice of paying "facilitation fees" has been a longstanding problem. These fees, ranging from five to ten percent of contract values, are reportedly demanded by some councillors in exchange for favorable contract awards.

One contractor shared their experience, stating, "For years, we've had to navigate a system where some councillors demand bribes, claiming that without these payments, we wouldn't secure favorable deals with the council." They added that the situation was often desperate, with many contractors feeling they had no choice but to comply in order to keep their businesses afloat.

Another contractor elaborated on the practice, especially with regard to housing contracts. "When I develop a housing area with 500 stands, I am required to set aside 50 stands for councillors in exchange for future deals with the council," they explained, emphasizing the financial burden this creates for developers.

The recent arrests of Ndlovu and Moyo have given contractors hope that the situation may improve. "This is a step in the right direction," said one contractor. "We've been calling for accountability for too long, and now it seems like the authorities are finally listening."

However, the issue extends beyond land developers, with service providers also reporting similar demands from councillors. One service provider described how councillors intimidated them into paying a cut, claiming to have influenced the approval of their services by the council. "They kept demanding 10 percent of what I charged the local authority," the service provider said, noting that they eventually ignored the requests due to their knowledge of the council's processes.

A senior council employee also revealed how councillors had infiltrated the hiring process for key staff within the city council. "Some councillors would receive kickbacks to endorse candidates for senior positions," they said, adding that the process for selecting a new Town Clerk was already rife with behind-the-scenes canvassing.

The exposure of these corrupt practices has raised broader concerns about the impact on Bulawayo's development and investor confidence. Bulawayo United Residents Association (BURA) chairperson Mr. Winos Dube expressed dismay, stating, "To some of us who have lived in this beautiful city for decades, we ask ourselves why, at the turn of the millennium, we are now facing these corruption issues. This is what investors look at, and with such reports, they will certainly shun investing in our city."

The Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) also condemned the corruption, calling for ethical leadership, transparency in land allocation, and protection for whistle-blowers. "We strongly condemn any form of corruption, as it hinders sustainable development and violates principles of good governance," read a statement from BPRA.

Bulawayo Mayor, Clr David Coltart, has vowed to adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption, stating, "I am deeply concerned about the matter. From my perspective, we will jointly adopt this approach, and we will give whatever information is required by the authorities to stamp out corruption."

As the ZACC continues its investigation, the future of Bulawayo's governance remains uncertain. The council now stands at a crossroads, with the possibility of reform depending on the outcome of these efforts to root out corruption. If successful, this could lead to a more transparent and fair environment for businesses, residents, and investors alike.