Chimombe, Mpofu plead for leniency - cite 24 children

Convicted businessmen Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu told the High Court that they collectively have 24 children and an estimated combined net worth of about US$3 million as they pleaded for leniency during a pre-sentencing hearing.

Chimombe, who has three wives and 15 minor children, said he earns between US$15,000 and US$20,000 monthly, and owns properties in Borrowdale (valued at US$800,000) and Chinhoyi (US$120,000). He also cited health complications, including diabetes and hypertension, as part of his mitigation.

Mpofu told the court he has nine children aged between 6 and 25, and claimed a net worth of roughly US$1.5 million, with income between US$10,000 and US$15,000 per month from farming and other businesses. He apologised to the nation, the President, and government institutions, admitting they failed to verify documents involved in the Presidential Goat Scheme.

The pair were convicted in October for their role in the corruption scandal that stalled a national goat distribution programme and cost the Government US$7.38 million. Although ZWL 1.6 billion (≈US$7.71 million at the time) was released for goat procurement, only 4,208 goats worth US$331,445 were delivered, leaving an outstanding 103,382 goats undelivered.

The State has urged the court to impose a harsh penalty as a deterrent, recommending a sentence of up to 35 years, noting that no restitution has been made.

Justice Pisirayi Kwenda is expected to hand down sentence.