dyton mupawaenda
Court Correspondent
HARARE businessmen Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu, who are accused of defrauding the Government of US$7 million meant for the Presidential Goat Scheme, will spend the weekend in remand prison after bail ruling was deferred to Monday when the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission’s investigating officer, Mrs Gamuchirai Sibongile Zimunhu, will continue testifying against the duo.
Chimombe and Mpofu allegedly failed to supply goats despite receiving full payment from the Government.
The State yesterday continued to lead evidence from Mrs Zimunhu, who told the court that if the duo was released on bail, it could cause a public outcry as there was overwhelming evidence against Chimombe and Mpofu.
She said the public has interest in the matter as the goats were supposed benefit less privileged people in the country, hence people could protest if the two were granted bail.
It was noted that the registered company was called Blackdeck (Pvt) Ltd, but the one granted the tender was called Blackdeck Poultry and Livestock Farming.
Blackdeck, according to a forged NSSA clearance certificate, had one employee, Chimombe, who was attending all meetings with the ministry. The State is alleging that Mpofu and Chimombe forged a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) tax clearance certificate and a NSSA compliance certificate in the name of Blackdeck Private Limited and attached them to a bidding document which they submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture tender to supply and deliver goats under the Presidential Goat Pass-on Scheme.
They allegedly misrepresented that the company was in full compliance with ZIMRA and NSSA requirements.
However, investigations indicated that the QR code and the reference on the NSSA compliance certificate were issued to a different company and that Blackdeck (Pvt) Ltd was deregistered from the NSSA system in January 2016.
Investigations revealed that Blackdeck (Pvt) Ltd was not issued with a ZIMRA tax clearance certificate for 2021 and that the QR code on the forged tax clearance certificate belonged to a different company.
Acting on the misrepresentation, the Ministry signed a contract with Blackdeck on November 16, 2021, for the supply of 632 001 goats worth US$87 757 168.
The Ministry paid Blackdeck ZWL$1,6 billion (equivalent to US$7 712 197 at the time).
Following delays in the delivery of the goats, the Ministry discovered that the duo only had 3 713 goats and cancelled the contract on August 29, 2022. The two only supplied 4 208 goats valued at US$331 445 and convert US$7 380 751 to their personal use. Nothing was recovered.
Online Reporter