The Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) has condemned alleged corruption involving four sitting Bulawayo City councillors and one former councillor, and demanded immediate accountability and structural reforms at City Hall. In a statement issued on 26 August 2026, the association said that while the matter is still before the courts, it categorically condemns all forms […]
The Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) has condemned alleged corruption involving four sitting Bulawayo City councillors and one former councillor, and demanded immediate accountability and structural reforms at City Hall.
In a statement issued on 26 August 2026, the association said that while the matter is still before the courts, it categorically condemns all forms of corruption.
“Although the matter is still ongoing in the courts of law, BPRA categorically condemns all forms of corruption,” reads the statement.
“The alleged involvement of the city’s highest public offices in bribery, extortion, and malpractice undermines public trust and desecrates the city’s foundational value of integrity.
“It is the duty of the City of Bulawayo to provide ethical leaders who champion transparency, accountability, and conduct that builds trust with the residents and business community to ensure the city reclaims its position as a smart city, which is the industrial hub of Zimbabwe.”
To address the matter, the BPRA said the city must institute its own internal investigations into the alleged corruption and follow the necessary protocols set out in the Urban Councils Act.
It also called for strict enforcement of asset declarations for all councillors and public officials, saying this would help expose unexplained wealth and conflicts of interest.
The association further said council must improve institutional transparency by introducing rigorous financial disclosure requirements and strengthening oversight mechanisms for public land, leases and municipal resources.
It added that relevant oversight institutions and political parties must immediately reinforce whistle-blower protections and institutional ethical standards.
Bulawayo deputy mayor Edwin Ndlovu, Ward 28 councillor Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu and former Ward 22 councillor Rodney Jele were arrested over the weekend by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, while Mxolisi Mahlangu and Ashton Mhlanga later handed themselves in at ZACC offices in Bulawayo.
The three were arrested on allegations of soliciting a US$52,000 bribe to stop the cancellation of a hotel development lease.
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