Online Reporter
Fidelis Munyoro
Chief Court Reporter
The trial of business partners, Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe, takes centre stage once more today at the High Court, as the wheels of justice turn despite their failed attempts to halt proceedings under the guise of unresolved constitutional violations.
In a case that has gripped the nation, the duo stands accused of misappropriating millions from the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme, a programme designed to uplift rural livelihoods.
Last month, their bid for bail was dismissed by Justice Pisirayi Kwenda, leading to a continuation of proceedings.
The court did not mince words in highlighting the gravity of the prosecution’s concerns.
Justice Kwenda pointed to the worsening circumstances of the accused, which, in the court’s view, significantly amplify their risk of absconding.
The stakes are high, with the spectre of a 20-year prison sentence looming, should Mpofu and Chimombe be convicted after the trial.
The court also noted with unease that the identities of key witnesses had now been disclosed, raising the possibility of interference.
