HARARE – The high-flying lifestyle of Mike Chimombe, once the poster boy for Zimbabwe’s “nouveau riche” socialite scene, is being dismantled brick by brick. As the 44-year-old businessman sits in a prison cell, his family has launched a desperate fire sale of his vast property portfolio in a race against time to secure his partial freedom.
The clock is ticking towards 26 February 2026. That is the deadline set by High Court Justice Pisirayi Kwenda for Chimombe to pay back US$964,000 to the State. If he fails, a two-year suspended sentence will be activated, adding to an already lengthy stay behind bars.
A Wife’s Desperate Gamble
Mitchell Rusero, one of Chimombe’s three wives, has taken to social media to offload five prime properties in Harare. The listings, which have set tongues wagging across the capital, include a sprawling 1.5-hectare commercial stand in Madokero, two residential stands in Sally Mugabe Heights, and another two in the upscale Crowhill area.
The commercial stand in Madokero is the crown jewel of the sale, commanding a price of US$200,000 and coming complete with title deeds. The cheapest residential stands are listed at US$14,000. Mitchell has made her terms clear: she wants cash offers only. No instalments, no delays.
This sudden liquidation has sparked intense speculation that the family is struggling to raise the nearly US$1 million required for restitution. Chimombe, who once boasted of earning up to US$20,000 a month and owning a US$800,000 mansion in Borrowdale, now finds his fate tied to the speed of the Harare property market.
The Fall of the ‘Rags-to-Riches’ Mogul
Chimombe’s journey from a self-proclaimed “rags-to-riches” businessman to a convicted fraudster has been as dramatic as it is sordid. During his trial, he painted a picture of a man who had built an empire from nothing, owning houses in Borrowdale and Chinhoyi, and a fleet of vehicles worth US$200,000.
However, the State told a different story—one of greed, forged documents, and a betrayal of the country’s most vulnerable citizens. Chimombe and his business partner, Moses Mpofu, were convicted in October 2025 for their roles in the “Presidential Pass-On Goat Scheme” scandal.
The scheme was intended to empower rural farmers by distributing goats across the country. The government allocated ZWL 1.6 billion—equivalent to US$7.71 million at the time—to the project. But instead of goats, the State received forged ZIMRA tax clearance certificates and fraudulent NSSA compliance papers.
By the end of 2022, only 4,208 goats had been delivered out of a promised 107,590. The shortfall was staggering: over 103,000 goats were missing, and US$7.38 million of public money had vanished.
Justice Delivered, but at a Cost
In December 2025, Justice Kwenda handed down stiff penalties. Moses Mpofu was sentenced to 22 years in prison, with seven years suspended, leaving him with an effective 15-year term. Chimombe received a 17-year sentence. Three years were suspended on condition of good behaviour, and a further two years were suspended on the condition that he pays back US$964,000 by the February deadline.
If Chimombe meets the payment, he will serve an effective 12 years. If he fails, he faces 14 years.
During the pre-sentencing hearings, the two men pleaded for leniency, citing their massive family responsibilities. Between them, they have 24 children. Chimombe revealed he has three wives and 15 minor children who depend solely on him. Mpofu has nine children, eight of whom are still in school.
“I first want to apologise to the President and the people of Zimbabwe,” Mpofu told the court, his voice heavy with the weight of his predicament. “I regret everything that happened in the Presidential Pass-On Goat scheme that I and Blackdeck were entrusted to oversee. The papers were fraudulent and I stand in court today to admit that we failed on our part.”
Chimombe, however, maintained that he was not the “actual perpetrator” and argued that his 12-year term was “manifestly excessive.” His legal team, led by Advocate Tapson Dzvetero and Ashiel Mugiya, has since applied for leave to appeal both the conviction and the sentence, claiming the court “went on a frolic of its own” by focusing on the theft of the corporate identity of Blackdeck (Private) Limited.
The Shadow of the ZEC Scandal
While the goat scheme led to their conviction, many believe the downfall of Chimombe and Mpofu began with a fallout involving another flamboyant businessman: Wicknell Chivayo.
In mid-2024, a series of leaked audios and documents exposed a massive corruption scandal involving a US$40 million tender for election materials for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). Chimombe and Mpofu, who had been business partners with Chivayo, allegedly felt “cut out” of the lucrative deal involving a South African company, Ren-Form.
The duo reportedly clashed with Chivayo over payments, leading to the exposure of the deal. Critics and insiders suggest that Chimombe and Mpofu were “sacrificed” to protect higher-ranking officials involved in the ZEC scandal. While Chivayo was eventually cleared by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) in December 2025, his former partners found themselves facing the full wrath of the law over the goat tender.
A Life of Controversy and Excess
Chimombe’s personal life has been as controversial as his business dealings. In 2021, he made headlines for all the wrong reasons when it emerged that he had impregnated his wife’s younger sister, Panashe Rusero.
The scandal broke when Panashe hosted a baby shower, and photos of a “cosy” Chimombe and his sister-in-law began circulating. Sources close to the family revealed that the affair had started years earlier when Panashe was still a student staying at her sister Mitchell’s house.
When confronted by journalists at the time, Chimombe was defiant. “Why are you calling me? Whatever happens in my personal life does not have anything to do with you,” he snapped. “Zvinei newe (what has that to do with you?) This is my personal life and I am inclined to do what I want.”
This defiance has been a hallmark of Chimombe’s public persona. Whether it was his involvement in a public violence storm with socialite Passion Java in early 2024—where he was accused of hiring thugs to rob a businessman of US$18,000—or his flashy displays of wealth as the president of the Affirmative Action Group (AAG), Chimombe always seemed to believe he was untouchable.
The Ticking Clock
Now, the “untouchable” socialite is facing the grim reality of Chikurubi Maximum Prison. His health is reportedly failing; his lawyers told the court he suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure
As Mitchell Rusero continues to field calls for the Madokero and Crowhill stands, the question remains whether the fire sale will be enough. Raising nearly a million dollars in a month is a Herculean task, even for a man who once earned US$20,000 a month.
For the rural farmers who never received their goats, the property sale is a small measure of justice. For Mike Chimombe, it is a desperate attempt to buy back two years of his life. But as the sun sets over the Borrowdale mansion he may never live in again, the “rigs-to-riches” story has reached its final, tragic chapter.
The State remains adamant that the sentences should stand. Prosecutors argue that the duo’s actions derailed a national programme and that a strong message must be sent to “wannabe offenders.”
As the 26 February deadline looms, the nation watches. Will the socialite’s empire be enough to save him, or has the clock finally run out for Mike Chimombe?
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