Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. The sentencing of Zanu PF members Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu for US$7,7 million fraud has been further postponed to November 28.
The postponement allows the State to upload a victim impact statement ahead of the sentencing hearing.
The delay follows a series of legal disputes between the defence and the presiding judge, Justice Pisirayi Kwenda.
Last week, lawyers representing Chimombe and Mpofu sought to halt the pre-sentencing proceedings.
They argued that they needed the written judgment from their conviction to prepare their sentencing submissions and intended to approach the Supreme Court to compel its release.
However, Justice Kwenda dismissed their application, insisting the matter proceeds.
He warned the lawyers to attend the next hearing without fail, stating the case would continue in their absence if necessary.
The judge advised the defence team to access a record of the judgment through the court’s YouTube channel, stating he had not prevented them from writing notes during the court proceedings or accessing the online video.
The two were convicted for their roles in a botched tender to supply 500 000 goats to the Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development ministry.
The court found that they had falsified a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority tax clearance certificate and a National Social Security Authority compliance certificate in the name of a non-existent company, Blackdeck Livestock & Poultry (Pvt) Ltd.
This misrepresentation led the State to award the multi-million dollar tender to the fictitious entity, causing a total prejudice of US$7 712 197.
The two have been in custody since their initial remand in June of last year.
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