Story by Peter Chivhima
Harare regional magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa has denied businessmen Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu bail when the two appeared before her this Tuesday.
The court ruled that the two are are likely to flee the court’s jurisdiction since they have connections outside the country.
The court also ruled that granting them bail will cause a public outcry.
The court gallery also heard that Chimombe and Mpofu in their defense failed to explain whether the documents they used in the bidding process for the Presidential Goat Pass-on Scheme were authentic.
The two were arrested last month on allegations of fraud involving US$7 million after they allegedly swindled the government in the Presidential Goat Pass On Scheme.
It is the State’s case that Chimombe and Mpofu forged a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) tax clearance certificate and a NSSA compliance certificate in the name of a company called Blackdeck and attached them to a bidding document which they submitted to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development for a tender to supply and deliver goats under the Presidential Goat Pass-on Scheme.
It is also alleged that the duo misrepresented to the same Ministry and entered into a contract with Blackdeck Livestock and Poultry Farming in 2021, for the supply and delivery of more than 630 000 goats for the Presidential Goats Pass-on Scheme, but they failed to honour their promise.
The court therefore ruled that the accused are facing a serious offence and there is a likelihood of conviction, based on the fact that the documents they submitted to acquire the goat tender were fake.
The duo failed to explain whether the documents they used in the bidding process were authentic.
There is a possibility of interference as they also tried to reduce the amount from US$7 million to US$4 million, in addition to false claims that they are still supplying the goats, with the last supply made in March.
