daniel chigunwe
Mathew Masinge
EMBATTLED businessmen – Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe – have beefed up their defence team by engaging two more lawyers, including Professor Lovemore Madhuku, in the fraud trial in which they are being accused of swindling US$7,7 million.
Mpofu is now being represented by Advocate Garikayi Sithole, instructed by Tapson Dzvetero, while Chimombe has engaged Madhuku, who is being instructed by Arshiel Mugiya.
The duo allegedly forged tax and compliance certificates to secure a tender for supplying goats before they misrepresented their company’s compliance status.
They appeared before High Court Judge Justice Pisirayi Kwenda who deferred proceedings to today.
In seeking the postponement, Mpofu and Chimombe said they needed to be furnished with further particulars by the State in order to prepare their defence.
Their lawyers also said they needed time to go through the merits of the matter and receive further instructions from the two businessmen.
Mpofu and Chimombe, through their lawyers, have also placed the State on notice saying they intend to raise constitutional issues.
The Prosecution will lead evidence from 10 witnesses on the continuous roll that runs until this Friday. Justice Kwenda allowed the postponement but cautioned the defence lawyers against delaying the trial.
“Housekeeping issues should be dealt with on time, the court has to sit tomorrow and will not allow any further delays.
“All witnesses have to be dealt with during this period since its not easy to find other free days to finalise such criminal trials,” said Justice Kwenda.
It is the State case that the two allegedly forged a ZIMRA Tax clearance certificate and an NSSA compliance certificate, under Blackdeck (Pvt) Ltd and attached them to a bidding document which they submitted to the Lands Ministry for a tender.
The tender was meant for the supply and delivery of goats under the Presidential Goat Pass-on Scheme.
Despite receiving substantial payments, Mpofu and Chimombe failed to deliver the expected number of goats, leading to their arrest in July.
The trial is expected to start today.
Online Reporter