Chimombe, Mpofu forged documents, pocketed US$7m  

Brenna Matendere

Harare—The duo of Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe allegedly faked documents in order to get a US$88 million government tender to supply goats under a presidential rural scheme, according to prosecution on Wednesday.

Chimombe and Mpofu appeared before Harare magistrate, Marehwanazvo Gofa, with Anesu Chirenje prosecuting, and were remanded in custody to today for bail hearing.

State prosecution alleged that the pair’s purported company, Blackdeck Livestock and Poultry Farming, did not have valid tax clearance nor National Social Security Authority (NSSA) compliance certificates that were compulsory when they submitted their bid.

Instead, it was alleged, the duo, which was charged with fraud as defined in Section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23, faked the documents.

The two businessmen’s lawyer, Tapson Dzvetero, told NewsHub that his clients will be leading evidence today (Thursday) to show cause why they must be given bail.

“I cannot comment much, save to say that my clients were remanded in custody and will be back at court tomorrow (today) where we will apply for bail as they are not a flight risk. They came to court from home and not the ZACC offices. They have been cooperating with ZACC investigators,” he said.

The state alleges that, in 2021, the government, as part of its rural development agenda, introduced the presidential goat scheme aimed at alleviating poverty among poor households across the country’s 10 provinces.

The government intended to buy special goat breeds for selected households, anticipating to procure more than 500, 000 goats under the scheme that was housed in the ministry of Lands, Agriculture. Water, Fisheries and Rural Development.

According to prosecution, the ministry flighted a tender (number MLARWD/HQ/CB/42/21) on 3 September 2021 for the supply and delivery of the goats, with a closing date of 17 September 2021.

Four companies—namely Kotrum Enterprises Private Limited, Blackdeck Livestock and Poultry Farming. Millytake Enterprises Private Limited and Zvikomborero farms Private Limited—responded to the advertisement by submitting their bids.

Chimombe and Mpofu applied for the tender even though, said the State, they were fully aware that their company was not registered and did not have the social security compliance and tax clearance certificates required to be eligible to bid for the tender.

The duo allegedly forged a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) tax clearance certificate (I1TF263) bearing a business partner registration number 0197190L.

The forged documents were allegedly attached to the bidding documentation, which they submitted to the Lands ministry, thereby misrepresenting that the company was eligible to bid.

 

The ministry subsequently awarded Blackdeck the tender on 3 November 2021, believing that all the documents submitted were genuine.

On 16 November 2021, the ministry entered into a contract with Blackdeck to supply 632 001 goats for the presidential goats scheme valued at US$87 757 168.

In Clause 29.1 of the contract, the Lands ministry agreed to make a 30% advance payment to Blackdeck, subsequently transferring ZWL$901, 294 200 and ZWL$698 705 800 on 21 April 2022 and 29 June 2022, bringing the total payment at that stage to the equivalent of US$7 712 197.

Following delays in delivery of the goats, the Ministry of Lands officials allegedly made several engagements with the two accused persons, demanding delivery of the livestock.

Chimombe and Mpofu are alleged to have misrepresented that they were holding 32,500 goats in the pens that were ready for distribution to the indented beneficiaries.

The ministry then deployed teams to verify the pair’s claim and discovered that the accused persons had only 3 713 goats at their holding sites, resulting in the cancellation of the contract and tender on 29 August 2022.

Prosecution alleged that, in total, Chimombe and Mpofu supplied a mere 4,208 goats valued at US$331 445 and converted more than US$7 million to their own use.