Story by Fungai Jachi, Courts Reporter
THE trial of Harare businessmen, Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu who are facing fraud charges after they allegedly misappropriated US$7 million from the Presidential Goats Scheme has been set for October at the Harare High Court.
Chimombe and Mpofu will stand trial from the 1st to the 4th of October this year at the Harare High Court.
The State served the defense with the relevant paperwork to prepare for the trial come October.
Allegations are that Mpofu and Chimombe forged documents to secure the tender to supply 600,000 goats under the Presidential Goat Scheme.
It is alleged that Blackdeck Pvt Ltd, the company linked to the accused, which they allegedly used to defraud the government, did not have a valid tax clearance.
The reference on the NSSA compliance certificate was issued to a different company, according to the prosecution.
Further allegations are that Blackdeck Pvt Ltd was de-registered from the NSSA system in January 2016.
The court heard that acting on the misrepresentation, on 16 November 2021, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development entered into an agreement with Blackdeck for the supply of 632 001 goats valued at US$87,7 million.
Between April and June 2022, the ministry transferred ZWG$1.6 billion , which was equivalent to US$7,712 197 into the company’s bank account.
Consequently, their contract was cancelled on 29 August 2022 after Chimombe and Mpofu only supplied 4 208 goats valued at US$331 445.
They went on to convert US$7 380 751 to their personal use.
The pair is facing another corruption-related charge involving a botched street lights tender worth over US$9 million.
Meanwhile, Harare City Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango and his co-accused Artkins Mandaza, the Principal Contracts Administrator in the Procurement Management Unit of the council, who are allegedly involved in a US$9.2 million street lights deal have been denied bail.
The two are accused of criminal abuse of duty after they allegedly connived with four other council officials to illegally award a street lights tender to Juluka Enndo Joint Venture.
The court noted that the pair is facing a serious offense and are most likely to abscond trial.
They were remanded in custody to the 22nd of this month.
