Online Reporter
Fidelis Munyoro
The Supreme Court will sit this afternoon to consider an appeal by imprisoned business partners Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe.
The duo is seeking permission to challenge a High Court ruling that dismissed their bid for relief. They want the Supreme Court to overturn their convictions and sentences handed down for orchestrating a large-scale fraud that siphoned millions from the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme.
Their earlier attempt was rejected by Justice Pisirayi Kwenda, who described their arguments as “frivolous and vexatious.”
Mpofu was sentenced to an effective 19 years in prison, with part of the term suspended on condition that he repays more than US$2 million.
Chimombe received an effective 14-year sentence, with a portion suspended on condition that he repays over US$964 000.
The Supreme Court hearing will determine whether the pair may proceed with a substantive appeal against the High Court’s dismissal. Until the court issues its decision, Mpofu and Chimombe remain in custody.
Peter Tanyanyiwa