Chimombe, Mpofu goat scheme trial set for October

Oscar J Jeke

Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu have been formally given notice of their High Court, Anti-Corruption Court date which has been set on a continuous roll from October 1 to 4 this year, where they face fraud charges emanating from alleged forgery of tax clearance and compliance certificates of their company Blackdeck Private Limited.

The two have been in custody for weeks in connection with the case involving the Ministry of Agriculture to which they provided the forged documents in order to win the Presidential goat scheme tender which they are reported to have received millions for.

The duo had applied for bail in relation to the case, however they were not successful.

The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe has stated that the duo, “ Moses Mpofu, 49, and Mike Chimombe, 43, who are facing fraud charges have been indicted to the Harare High Court, Anti-Corruption Court for trial. The trial has been set down on a continuous roll from the 1st to the 4th October 2024.

“They misrepresented that the company was in full compliance with the ZIMRA and NSSA requirements,” the NPAZ said.

Chimombe and Mpofu in the recent weeks were also arrested on a separate issue while in custody, in another fraud case where they are alleged to have used the same tactic to win a tender with the Harare City Council, having been paid over US$9 million to install street lights in the city.

They are co-accused together with the City’s town clerk Hosiah Chisango and four other council officials.