Moses Mpofu's fraud charges mount

It never rains but pours for embattled Harare businessman Moses Mpofu, who now finds himself entangled in a growing web of criminal allegations, many of which are being linked to his bitter fallout with flamboyant and politically connected entrepreneur Wicknell Chivayo.

Mpofu, along with his wife Nobukhosi and brother Vusumuzi, is facing fraud charges involving US$415,290 connected to their company Synlak (Pvt) Ltd and the mismanagement of the European Union-funded Mbare Biogas Project, under the City of Harare.

According to court documents, in 2015, Synlak was awarded a tender to design and construct four biogas digesters and supply a 100KVA biogas generator. The tender’s terms clearly stipulated that payment would only be made after full delivery, installation, and commissioning of the project equipment.

However, Synlak allegedly misrepresented their readiness and financial capacity, submitting a US$465,290 invoice for “full delivery” — despite no installation or commissioning having been done. Working allegedly in collusion with then City of Harare finance director Tendai Kwenda — who is yet to be arrested — US$415,290 was paid in advance into Synlak’s CABS and BancABC accounts.

Investigators say the funds were immediately withdrawn and diverted for personal use. No generator was ever supplied, and no valid completion certificates were issued. Further, Synlak is accused of falsely claiming to be an authorised reseller for Camda New Energy Technology Co. Ltd, a key condition in winning the bid.

The charges come as yet another blow to Mpofu and his jailed associate Mike Chimombe, who were previously arrested over the alleged misappropriation of US$7.7 million in the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme, following scrutiny of their involvement in the controversial US$100 million Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) tender scandal.

Analysts say the corruption net is tightening around Mpofu, with fresh allegations surfacing almost weekly, each appearing to further implicate him in a trail of financial misconduct that spans both the private and public sectors.

Many close to the saga suggest that the relentless legal onslaught is not just about justice, but politics, stemming from Mpofu and Chimombe’s fallout with Chivayo — a man widely regarded as untouchable due to his close ties to the highest office in the land.

Sources claim Chivayo has privately vowed that Mpofu and Chimombe will 'rot in jail', and recent developments seem to echo that threat.

With the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) continuing to unearth more deals linked to Mpofu, legal observers say his future appears increasingly bleak — especially as the allegations become more deeply entangled with political rivalries and elite interests.