Bulawayo mayor David Coltart says councillors facing corruption and abuse of office charges should be suspended while legal proceedings or disciplinary investigations are underway.

The Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association has called for urgent accountability and institutional reforms following bribery allegations involving four serving city councillors and a former councillor.

Bulawayo Deputy Mayor Edwin Ndlovu and two councillors have been arrested by ZACC over allegations that they demanded US$52,000 from a businessman to prevent the cancellation of a hotel development lease.

In a significant move toward ethical leadership, Bulawayo city councillors have officially signed an integrity pledge aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability within local governance.