The prosecution has recommended a 35-year prison term for business partners Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe, who were convicted of fraud in connection with the Presidential Goat Scheme. The court is set to issue its sentencing ruling on Monday.
Mpofu and Chimombe were found guilty of using forged documents to secure a government tender aimed at supplying 632,001 goats, valued at approximately US$87,757. The tender was originally awarded to Blackdeck Private Limited but was later signed by an unregistered entity, Blackdeck Livestock and Poultry Farming, through the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, and Rural Development.
Investigations uncovered several irregularities, including the company’s lack of a valid tax clearance certificate for 2021. Additionally, a QR code on their National Social Security Authority (NSSA) compliance certificate was traced back to a completely different business, Skywalk Investments.
Prosecutor Whisper Mabhaudi highlighted the gravity of the crime, arguing that the proposed sentence should exceed the standard 20-year penalty due to aggravating circumstances. “This offence shocks the conscience of man,” he stated. “The circumstances demand the maximum penalty under the law. The court must send a clear message to deter others and restore hope that those draining this nation’s economy will face justice.”
In contrast, the defense team has urged for leniency. Mpofu’s lawyer, John Koto, argued that the use of forged documents should not be equated with the actual performance of the tender. This plea suggests that while the documents were fraudulent, the impact of their actions might not warrant the lengthy sentence being proposed.
Professor Lovemore Madhuku, representing Chimombe, acknowledged the crime’s seriousness but argued for different sentencing for the two men, suggesting Chimombe’s involvement was minimal. He pointed to lapses in due diligence by officials within the Ministry as a contributing factor, questioning how a committee led by a lawyer could fail to spot the fraud during the tender evaluation process.
“The negligence of State officials is glaring,” Professor Madhuku stated. “The entire ministry evaluated nothing. This failure must be addressed.” He also emphasized the need for a government report detailing the exact prejudice suffered by the State in this case.
In response, Prosecutor Mabhaudi emphasized that the vulnerable groups identified in a public service database—orphans, widows, the elderly, and the disabled—were the true victims of the fraud. He noted that after the tender was awarded, the ministry had already disbursed ZWL1.6 billion in two installments in 2022, a payout that was equivalent to US$7,712.197 at the time.
The court’s decision on Monday will determine the fate of Mpofu and Chimombe, with the prosecution’s recommended sentence reflecting the severity of the fraud and its implications for the community.
