Chimombe, Mpofu remanded in custody
CRIME REPORTER
Mike Chimombe, a ZANU PF central committee member, and his business partner Moses Mpofu have been remanded until August 7 for their alleged involvement in a massive goat scandal worth millions of US dollars.
The Harare regional magistrate, Marehwanazvo Gofa, ruled that releasing the duo on bail could spark public riots, given the scheme’s aim to alleviate poverty among ordinary citizens.
The Presidential Goat Pass-on Scheme, introduced in 2021, aimed to purchase over 600,000 special goat breeds to benefit less-privileged households.
However, Chimombe and Mpofu allegedly defrauded the government of over US$7m through their unregistered company, Blackdeck.
The magistrate rejected claims of politicisation and expressed concerns about potential interference with investigations.
The case has been remanded for indictment, with the defendants facing charges of fraud and corruption.