dyton mupawaenda
Zvikomborero Parafini
BUSINESSMEN Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe, who spent their second weekend in custody, are expected back in court today for the continuation of their bail application.
Last week, the matter couldn’t be heard because presiding magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa was not feeling well.
They spent another weekend in remand prison after their lengthy bail application was postponed to today for continuation.
Prosecutor Anesu Chirenje has led evidence from the lead investigator, Henry Chapwanya, who is now being cross examined by the duo’s lawyers.
The court heard that in 2021, the Government, as part of the Rural Development Agenda, introduced the Presidential Goat Pass-on scheme targeting to alleviate poverty among the less privileged households across the country.
The Government had targeted to buy special goat breeds for households and their village heads and it anticipated to procure more than 500 000 goats for this scheme.
The Government mandated the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development to implement this programme and the ministry flighted a tender for the supply and delivery of the goats.
It is alleged that Chimombe and Mpofu participated in the tender knowing that Blackdeck Livestock and Poultry Farming was not registered and does not have a valid ZIMRA Tax Clearance certificate and National Social Security Authority compliance certificate required for a company to be eligible to bid in that tender.
On the contract, Blackdeck Livestock and Poultry Farming was represented by Moses Mpofu and Tinashe Chimombe, who was his witness.
The ministry transferred an equivalent to US$7 712 197 into the company’s CABS bank account towards the purchasing of the goats.
After delays in delivery, the Ministry made follow-ups and found out that the duo had no capacity to deliver the goats as they had only 3713 goats in their holding sites.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter