Story by Peter Chivhima
THE presentencing enquiry of convicted duo of Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu has kicked off with the State leading evidence from state witness.
This follows the August 2023 Sentencing Guidelines, which use a presumptive penalty to balance harsher sentences for aggravating factors with leniency for mitigating ones.
The presentencing inquiry was supposed to commence a few weeks ago, but it was postponed.
The two were convicted of defrauding the government of over US$7 million in a Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme.
Although the two were convicted last month, they are yet to be sentenced due to delaying tactics by the defence.
Last week, the presiding judge, Justice Pisirayi Kwenda, criticised the defence for deliberately stalling the presentencing process.
During cross-examination on Friday, the State led evidence, with Mr Alga Mindurwa from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, who testified that due to Chimombe and Mpofu’s actions the country’s Vision 2030 was derailed.
He also submitted that the intended empowerment of youths and women was heavily affected.
After those submissions by the witness, the defence requested time to go through the papers.
Meanwhile, the case will continue on Wednesday next week.
