Bulawayo – The Thredgold magistrate court has convicted and jailed Bulawayo City Council (BCC) Councillor Mpumelelo Moyo to 12 months in prison for soliciting for a US$20 000 bribe from a foreign investor in exchange for land allocation.
Moyo,37, was the Finance committee chairperson for BCC and Councillor for Ward 26.
He was initially sentenced to 18 months in jail but six months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
According to the State’s case, Labenmon Investments was offered 5.6 hectares of land in Umvumila industrial area by council. Moyo approached the company and solicited for a US$20 000 bribe claiming it was meant to be shared among 20 Councillors at BCC. Moyo was arrested after receiving the bribe marked cash.
Corruption is very rife in Zimbabwe within government, councils and private companies.