Deadline Passes Without Mpofu, Chimombe Paying US$3M Restitution
THE Government has not yet recovered US$3 million lost to the fraud committed by jailed business partners Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe.
The two were sentenced to jail by the High Court in December last year for defrauding the Government of over US$7 million under the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme.
Mpofu, aged 50, received a 22-year sentence, with three years suspended for good behaviour and four years suspended if he paid back US$2,060,250.60 by February 28.
Chimombe, aged 44, was sentenced to 17 years, with three years suspended for good behaviour and two years suspended if he repaid US$964,064.64 by the same date.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development confirmed no payments have been made so far.
Permanent Secretary Professor Jiri said there was no update on the matter.
“We have not received an update, yet,” he said.
If the duo fails to meet the restitution deadline, they may still petition the High Court to request an extension of time for payment.
The court heard that Mpofu and Chimombe used forged documents to win an $87 million government contract to supply over 500,000 goats meant for rural households.
The scheme aimed to improve food security, nutrition, and incomes for vulnerable groups, including orphans and the elderly.
Instead, the pair created a fictitious company, Blackdeck Livestock and Poultry Farming, using fake certificates from Zimra and NSSA to mislead officials.
They received an advance payment of ZWL$1.6 billion (around US$7.7 million) but delivered only 4,208 goats, far short of the required 85,000.
The funds were diverted into other accounts and traded on the black market.
The judge said the crime was carefully planned and caused reputational harm to the Government.
The Supreme Court is set to hear the duo’s application for leave to appeal their conviction and sentence on Friday.
The hearing will take place in chambers and will come about a week after the deadline for the payment of restitution would have elapsed. *Herald*
