HARARE – Convicted businessmen Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu, fathers to a staggering 24 children between them, face the prospect of spending the next 35 years behind bars, as the State calls for a lengthy prison sentence following their conviction in a high-profile corruption scandal. Well-placed sources within the security sector suggest that the two are likely to be handed down sentences in the region of 35 years.
The two men appeared in court yesterday for a pre-sentencing hearing that stretched late into the night, pleading with High Court Judge Justice Pisirayi Kwenda to consider their personal circumstances and mitigating factors when determining their punishment. Both Chimombe and Mpofu have already spent close to 18 months in pre-trial incarceration.
The case stems from a corruption scandal that derailed a national programme, resulting in the Government losing a staggering US$7.38 million. Chimombe and Mpofu were found guilty of their roles in the affair in October.
In mitigation, Mpofu offered a heartfelt apology to the nation, accepting responsibility for failing to properly scrutinise documents that later turned out to be fraudulent. “I first want to first apologise to the President and the people of Zimbabwe,” he stated. “I regret everything that happened in the Presidential Pass-On Goat scheme that I and Blackdeck were entrusted to oversee.”
Mpofu continued, “As a citizen I have confidence in all the programmes that are rolled out by the Government to empower its people. I want to apologise on behalf of Blackdeck, its directors and shareholders that we failed to verify or perform due diligence, that the ZIMRA Tax clearance and NSSA certificate were genuine or fraudulent. The papers were fraudulent and I stand in court today to admit that we failed on our part.”
Mpofu’s lawyer pleaded with the court for leniency, requesting a shorter prison sentence.
For his part, Chimombe argued that the court should consider the degree of his involvement in the scandal, claiming that he was not the primary instigator. He maintained that he would never intentionally plot to commit such a crime.
The State, however, has urged the court to impose a severe sentence, arguing that it would send a strong message to potential offenders, given the seriousness of the crime and the fact that it involved the misappropriation of public funds. The prosecution emphasised that Chimombe and Mpofu acted in concert and should be treated equally, particularly as no restitution has been made to date. The prosecutor recommended a maximum sentence of 35 years, in line with the statutory penalty for the offence.
The sheer number of children dependent on the two men has added another layer of complexity to the case. Chimombe, who claims to have only completed his O-Levels before entering politics and business, has three wives and 15 children, all of whom are minors and rely on him for their well-being. Mpofu, on the other hand, has nine children, ranging in age from six to 25.
In a rather unusual comparison, it was noted that the two businessmen could even field a football team consisting entirely of their children, with enough players for a friendly match and even a substitute on each side.
Both Chimombe and Mpofu emphasised their responsibilities towards their families and various business ventures as mitigating factors.
Chimombe claimed that he used to earn an average of US$15,000 to US$20,000 per month. He declared ownership of two properties: a house in Borrowdale valued at US$800,000 and another in Chinhoyi, estimated to be worth US$120,000. He also cited his diabetic condition and high blood pressure as factors the court should consider.
Mpofu stated that his approximate net worth is close to US$1.5 million and that he used to earn between US$10,000 and US$15,000 a month from his farming operations and other, unspecified, businesses.
The scandal revolves around the Government’s allocation of ZWL 1.6 billion, equivalent to US$7.71 million at the time, for the procurement and delivery of goats under the Presidential Pass-On Goat scheme. The initiative aimed to empower communities through livestock farming. However, by the end of 2022, only 4,208 goats, worth US$331,445, had been delivered. The contractor subsequently suspended operations, leaving a shortfall of 103,382 goats and an outstanding sum of US$7.38 million.
The court now faces the difficult task of balancing the severity of the crime with the personal circumstances of the convicted men, including the welfare of their numerous children.
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