Coltart Calls for Suspension of Councillors Facing Graft Charges

Bulawayo mayor David Coltart says councillors facing corruption-related charges should be suspended pending the outcome of legal proceedings.

Bulawayo mayor David Coltart has called for councillors facing charges of dishonesty, corruption or abuse of office linked to their official duties to be automatically suspended pending the outcome of legal proceedings. Coltart made the call following the arrest of four sitting councillors and a former councillor over allegations that they solicited a US$52,000 bribe from a local businessman.

Deputy mayor Edwin Ndlovu, ward 28 councillor Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu, ward 15 councillor Ashton Mhlanga and ward 3 councillor Mxolisi Mahlangu were arrested alongside former councillor Rodney Jele by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC). The councillors deny the allegations and are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Coltart said he could not comment on the specific charges because the matter was before the courts, but warned that the arrests had intensified concerns over integrity and public confidence in the 38-member Bulawayo City Council.

“It would be inappropriate for me to comment on the specific allegations,” Coltart said, stressing the importance of the presumption of innocence.

However, he said the latest arrests came against a backdrop of other corruption-related cases involving councillors. Ward 26 councillor Mpumelelo Moyo, who chairs the finance committee, has been convicted of a criminal offence relating to bribery and is awaiting the outcome of an appeal in the High Court. Ward 1 councillor Josiah Mutangi was convicted of collecting unjustified payments from street vendors and was subsequently removed from office by Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe.

Coltart said six councillors were now either facing criminal charges or had been convicted of offences, describing the situation as one that “deeply undermines public confidence in the council”. The Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) has called for the city to take steps independently of the criminal prosecution process. Among its recommendations is that the council launch internal disciplinary proceedings against councillors facing allegations of misconduct.

Coltart, however, said the council does not have the legal authority to suspend councillors.

Under Zimbabwe’s local government framework, the power to suspend a councillor rests with the responsible minister, who may act where there are reasonable grounds to suspect misconduct and may order an investigation.

“My own view is that councillors charged with offences involving dishonesty, corruption or abuse of office directly related to their office as councillors should automatically be suspended pending either their acquittal or the outcome of the internal investigation and decision of the Tribunal,” Coltart said.

He stressed that the decision was ultimately outside his powers. The mayor also proposed that suspended councillors’ positions be filled in an acting capacity by other councillors to ensure council business continues without disruption.

Meanwhile, Coltart said he supported calls for councillors and senior council employees to declare their assets as part of efforts to strengthen accountability and combat corruption in Bulawayo. He said he attempted to implement an asset declaration policy shortly after taking office but encountered resistance.

According to Coltart, the council’s human resources director informed him on July 7 that the process had stalled. He said he had since undertaken to expedite its implementation. Coltart said the policy should cover both elected councillors and council employees.

“Unless we deal with the scourge of corruption in Bulawayo, and indeed throughout Zimbabwe, we will not realise the tremendous potential of our city and nation,” he said.

Bulawayo councillors corruption charges