Bulawayo deputy mayor barricaded himself to avoid arrest

Bulawayo deputy mayor Edwin Ndlovu allegedly barricaded himself inside his private office to avoid arrest by Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) investigators, forcing the investigators to hire a locksmith to gain entry, a court heard on Monday.

Ndlovu, 55, who is also the Ward 8 councillor, appeared before magistrate Isheunesu Matova facing extortion charges alongside Ward 28 councillor Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu and former Ward 22 councillor Alderman Rodney Jele.

The trio is accused of allegedly soliciting a US$52,000 bribe from a businessman whose company was awarded a development lease by the City of Bulawayo to construct a hotel.

The two serving councillors opposed being placed on remand, arguing that the State had failed to produce evidence linking them to the alleged offence.

Through their lawyers, they asked Matova to dismiss the charges before plea.

The magistrate is expected to rule on the application on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Milton Moyo told the court that ZACC investigators went to Ndlovu's private business, Gracious Driving School, to arrest him.

However, Ndlovu allegedly locked himself inside his office.

Moyo said investigators were subsequently forced to hire a locksmith to gain access to the premises.

The prosecutor argued that Ndlovu's alleged conduct was inconsistent with that of an innocent person while opposing the defence's application to have the accused persons released without being placed on remand.

The charges arise from allegations involving businessman Thulani Mthuli Matshazi, whose company, Mkhuze Global Investments, was awarded a long-term lease by the council in 2023 to develop a Hilton Hotel franchise.

The prosecution alleges that no development has taken place on the site.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority, the three accused allegedly approached Matshazi and threatened to have his lease cancelled unless he paid US$52,000.

The alleged demand was made during a meeting arranged by Jele at a lodge in Matsheumhlope on August 14.

The State alleges that the accused told Matshazi another investor was prepared to pay US$52,000 to have his lease cancelled and take over the property.

Matshazi was allegedly told that he could retain the lease if he matched the offer.

The prosecution further alleges that Ndlovu and his fellow serving councillor sat on the council's subcommittee on the allocation of stands and premises for development, giving them influence over the future of the lease.

The State alleges that they intended to recommend cancellation of Matshazi's lease at a committee meeting scheduled for August 19 if he failed to pay.

They would allegedly then use their influence to ensure that the recommendation was adopted at the subsequent full council meeting scheduled for September.

Matshazi subsequently reported the alleged extortion attempt to ZACC on August 21, resulting in investigators setting up a trap.

On August 22, US$5,000 was allegedly handed to Jele at Matshazi's home.

Jele was arrested while allegedly counting the money, with the trap cash subsequently recovered, according to the prosecution.

Jele's lawyer, Prince Butshe Dube, raised concerns over the manner in which investigators handled his client's case.

Dube told the court that Jele was allegedly denied access to his lawyer when investigators asked him to provide a statement.

The lawyer further alleged that Jele was eventually forced to sign a statement admitting to acts he had not committed.

Dube said the defence would challenge the authenticity and admissibility of the affidavit on the basis that it had allegedly been obtained through coercion.

The prosecution indicated that the complaints would be investigated.

The allegations have not been tested at trial, and the accused remain entitled to the presumption of innocence.

The latest case is not the first time Ndlovu has faced allegations relating to bribery.

In 2024, he was arrested alongside fellow councillor Mpumelelo Moyo after they were accused of allegedly demanding US$20,000 from a company seeking a lease over a 5.6-hectare piece of land in Cowdray Park for the construction of a cement factory.

Ndlovu was accused of giving a representative of Labenmon Investments a handwritten list containing the names of 20 councillors who allegedly needed to be paid in exchange for approving the land allocation.

The councillor and Moyo were arrested at the home of the company's representative, Tsitsi Mapfumo, after allegedly receiving trap money.

Ndlovu was later acquitted after the authenticity and authorship of the handwritten list became a central issue during the trial.

A forensic handwriting expert called by the prosecution testified that Ndlovu had written the entire document.

Mapfumo, however, told the court that she had written the first portion of the document.

In acquitting Ndlovu, magistrate Richard Ramaboea questioned the handwriting evidence linking him to the alleged offence.

"The only evidence linking the accused to the offence was exhibit number five (handwritten list). Yet the expert concluded the whole document was written by one person," Ramaboea ruled.

"If we accept that, then both the accused and the witness share the same handwriting, which is impossible."

Moyo was tried separately, convicted and subsequently released on bail pending an appeal.

The latest proceedings against Ndlovu, Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu and Jele are continuing, with the magistrate expected to rule on their application challenging placement on remand.