Court rejects bid to move fraud case

Zim Now Writer

A legal setback has struck Harare businessmen Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe, as their bid to have their case referred to the Constitutional Court has been dismissed by the High Court. The duo, accused of defrauding the government of over US$7 million in a goat supply tender scam, had argued that their constitutional rights were violated during the proceedings.

Chimombe and Mpofu had sought to challenge Judge Pisirayi Kwenda's decision to allow live broadcasting of the trial without their consent or that of the prosecution. They raised 17 constitutional issues, claiming that their matter was before the wrong court and that the legality and validity of their continued detention were questionable.

However, the state vehemently opposed their application, arguing that it was devoid of merit and that Chimombe and Mpofu had failed to demonstrate any constitutional issues that warranted referral to the Constitutional Court. The state maintained that the current proceedings were being conducted in accordance with the law.