Story by Peter Chivhima
THE trial of Harare businessmen, Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu was off to a false start this Tuesday after the defence requested more time to prepare.
The trial is now scheduled to start on Wednesday.
The highly anticipated trial of Harare businessmen, Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu, who are accused of defrauding the government of more than US$7 million, has been rolled over to this Wednesday after the defence requested for more time to put their house in order.
“The trial failed to kick off today because we have a number of issues which we feel need to be addressed. So today we have requested more time so that we can prepare for the trial. Also administratively there are a number of issues which need to be addressed,” said Lovemore Madhuku the duo’s Defence Lawyer.
Circumstances are that Chimombe and Mpofu allegedly forged a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) tax clearance certificate and a NSSA compliance certificate in the name of Blackdeck Private Limited.
They allegedly attached the documents in a bidding paper which they submitted to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development for a tender to supply and deliver goats for the Presidential Goat Pass-on Scheme.
It is further alleged that acting on the misrepresentation, in November 2021 the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development entered into a contract with Blackdeck Livestock and Poultry Farming to supply more than 6 000 goats for the Presidential Goat pass-on Scheme but failed to deliver.
Meanwhile, the state has staggered key witnesses in the matter into groups to avoid overwhelming the court.
The trial which commences this Wednesday is set to run until this Friday on a continuous High Court roll.
