Bulawayo deputy mayor Edwin Ndlovu allegedly barricaded himself inside his office, forcing ZACC investigators to hire a locksmith during his arrest. The post Bulawayo deputy mayor barricaded himself in office to evade ZACC arrest — court told appeared first on Nehanda Radio .
Bulawayo deputy mayor Edwin Ndlovu allegedly locked himself inside his private office to evade arrest, forcing anti-corruption investigators to summon a locksmith, a court heard on Monday.
Ndlovu, 55, appeared before magistrate Isheunesu Matova alongside Ward 28 councillor Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu and former Ward 22 councillor Rodney Jele.
The three are accused of demanding US$52,000 from businessman Thulani Mthuli Matshazi to prevent the cancellation of a long-term council lease granted for the proposed development of a Hilton-branded hotel.
Prosecutor Milton Moyo said Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission investigators went to arrest Ndlovu at his private business, Gracious Driving School, but found that he had barricaded himself inside his office.
Investigators allegedly had to hire a locksmith to open the door.
Bulawayo Deputy Mayor Edwin Ndlovu during an appearance on CITE (Picture via YouTube – CITE)
Moyo argued that the deputy mayor’s conduct was inconsistent with that of an innocent person as he opposed an application by Ndlovu and Ntandoyenkosi not to be placed on remand.
The two serving councillors maintained that prosecutors had presented no evidence connecting them to the alleged extortion plot. They asked Matova to dismiss the charges before they entered pleas.
The magistrate was expected to deliver his ruling on Tuesday.
Ndlovu, Ntandoyenkosi and Jele have not been convicted and remain presumed innocent.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority, Matshazi’s company, Mkhuze Global Investments, was awarded the long-term lease by Bulawayo City Council in 2023 to develop a Hilton Hotel franchise.
No development has taken place on the site.
Prosecutors allege that Jele arranged a meeting at a lodge in Matsheumhlope on August 14, where Matshazi was told that another investor was offering US$52,000 to have his lease terminated and take over the property.
The three allegedly told him that he could retain the lease only if he matched the rival investor’s offer.
Ndlovu and Ntandoyenkosi allegedly served on a council subcommittee responsible for allocating stands and premises for development.
Prosecutors claim they threatened to recommend cancelling Matshazi’s lease at a committee meeting scheduled for August 19 before using their influence to secure approval at the next full council meeting in September.
Matshazi reported the alleged demand to ZACC on August 21, prompting investigators to organise a trap operation.
The State alleges that US$5,000 was handed to Jele at Matshazi’s home the following day. Jele was reportedly arrested while counting the money, which investigators recovered.
Jele’s lawyer, Prince Butshe Dube, accused investigators of denying his client access to legal representation while taking a statement.
Dube alleged that Jele was coerced into signing a document containing admissions about actions he had not committed. The defence intends to challenge the statement’s admissibility.
Prosecutors said the complaints against the investigators would be examined.
Ndlovu was previously arrested with councillor Mpumelelo Moyo in 2024 over allegations that they demanded US$20,000 from Labenmon Investments.
The company was seeking a lease covering 5.6 hectares in Cowdray Park for a cement plant.
Prosecutors alleged that Ndlovu produced a handwritten document listing 20 councillors who were supposedly expecting payment for approving the land allocation.
He was acquitted in August 2025 after magistrate Richard Ramaboea found that contradictory handwriting evidence had undermined the State’s case.
A forensic expert said Ndlovu had written the entire document, while company representative Tsitsi Mapfumo testified that she had written its first section.
Ramaboea ruled that accepting both accounts would mean Ndlovu and Mapfumo shared identical handwriting, which was impossible.
Moyo was tried separately and convicted. He was subsequently released on bail pending appeal.
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