Chimombe, Mpofu Constitutional Court referral bid dismissed

Harare businessmen, Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe’s bid to move their case to the Constitutional Court has hit a brick wall after it was dismissed by the High Court on lack of merit.

The duo had approached the High Court seeking their matter to be referred to Constitutional Court arguing that it was before the wrong court.

They went on to raise 17 constitutional issues claiming that their constitutional rights had been violated, challenging the legality and validity of their continued detention.

Chimombe and Mpofu further challenged Judge Pisirayi Kwenda’s decision to permit live broadcasting of the trial without consulting them or the prosecution.

Their bid was, however, opposed by the state this Monday.

In dismissing their application, the state submitted that it is devoid of any merit.

The state further argued that Chimombe and Mpofu have failed to demonstrate that there are constitutional issues that arose during the current proceedings that warrant referral to the Constitutional Court.

Chimombe and Mpofu are accused of defrauding the government of more than US$7 million in a goat supply tender scam.

They allegedly forged documents for their company, Black Deck Private Limited to secure the tender issued by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.

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