By Desmond Chingarande
Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Zanu PF businessman Moses Mpofu has apologised to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, saying he regrets that the Presidential Goat Scheme did not go as planned.
His co-accused, Mike Chimombe, has meanwhile offered restitution.
The two, who are set to be sentenced on Monday next week, were convicted last month of fraud involving the US$7.7 million goat scheme.
Mpofu and Chimombe were found guilty of looting State funds disbursed through their non-existent company, Blackdeck, after winning an US$87 million government tender to supply 85 000 goats—of which only 4 000 were delivered.
“I want to apologise to Zimbabwe and President Mnangagwa. I want to say to Zimbabweans: I’m sorry, and I regret that the Presidential Goat Scheme did not go as planned. An apology has always been on my mind, starting with the President,” Mpofu said in court on Wednesday.
Mpofu admitted that Blackdeck operated with fake tax documents and failed to conduct proper due diligence.
“We should have scrutinised that… our ZIMRA papers were not in good condition and were fake. If we had picked it up earlier, we would have reported the matter,” he said.
He also attempted to shift blame onto the company rather than himself personally, saying:
“Court’s judgement is final, but it still hurts me because I did not do it. It was Blackdeck.”
Pressed on whether he was willing to compensate the government, Mpofu said he had no personal funds but added:
“If the court instructs that, I will see how to go about it.”
Chimombe’s lawyer, Ashiel Mugiya, said his client was ready to compensate the Ministry of Agriculture and urged the court to consider his willingness to make amends.
Mugiya said Chimombe, a businessman and farmer, owned movable assets and properties worth more than US$1 million—including an US$800 000 Borrowdale home—and could use these to help repay the State.
He argued that Chimombe had learnt his lesson, had 15 minor children and three wives to support, and was a first offender.
“He will not sit down to premeditated commission of such offences,” Mugiya said.
Prosecutor Whisper Mabhaudhi urged the court to impose a stiff sentence, saying the crime was unprecedented and targeted vulnerable groups.
“They stole from the poorest of the poor,” he said.
He warned that a lenient sentence would undermine the integrity of the justice system, adding:
“A non-custodial sentence can’t even be said to be a slap on the wrist.”
Mabhaudhi said the State had attempted to recover funds through the Money Laundering Act, but the pair resisted.
“The accused did not want to hear about compensation at all. If they really wanted to restitute, they would have offered to do so.”
Comparing the case to other corruption matters, he said:
“The starting point for this case is 20 years. This court has already spoken and should continue to speak with one voice.”
He argued that giving the pair less than the presumptive term would be “a betrayal of justice”, citing former prosecutor Pardon Dziva’s 19-year sentence for a US$10 000 offence.
“If the two get a lesser sentence, then people like Dziva should be set free.”
Mabhaudhi also criticised the defence’s conduct, claiming they attempted to delay the trial by filing 18 constitutional objections and attacking the bench.
“They complained that the bench was too old and they ‘cannibalised’ the bench. It was highly provocative,” he said.
He insisted that pretrial incarceration should not mitigate their sentence, as the delays were “of their own making”.
Professor Lovemore Madhuku, representing Chimombe and taking instructions from Mugiya, argued that the Ministry of Agriculture contributed to the scandal through poor oversight.
“There should be checks and balances in any government institution… the State machinery is also culpable,” he said, adding that his client should not be viewed as the sole culprit.
He suggested the court bar Chimombe from participating in similar projects in future.
After hearing both sides, the court postponed sentencing to Monday, when it will determine the appropriate punishment.
The prosecution has proposed a sentence of up to 35 years, while defence lawyers have pleaded for leniency, citing Mpofu’s apology and Chimombe’s willingness to restitute the State.
High Court judge Justice Pisirayi Kwenda said the matter would be finalised on Monday.
Source: NewsDay
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