News / National
Chimombe, Mpofu miss US$3 million restitution deadline
2 hrs ago |
235 Views
Government has not yet recovered nearly US$3 million in restitution from jailed businessmen Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe, months after the High Court ordered them to repay part of the funds siphoned from the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme.
Mpofu (50) and Chimombe (44) were convicted in December last year for defrauding the State of more than US$7 million in a scheme meant to supply goats to vulnerable rural households.
Mpofu was sentenced to 22 years in prison, with three years suspended for good behaviour and a further four years suspended on condition that he repays US$2,060,250.60 by February 28. Chimombe received a 17-year sentence, with three years suspended for good behaviour and two years suspended if he repays US$964,064.64 by the same deadline.
However, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development has confirmed that no payments have been made.
Permanent Secretary Professor Jiri said there had been no update regarding restitution. "We have not received an update yet," he said.
If the pair fail to meet the repayment deadline, they may petition the High Court for an extension of time to settle the outstanding amounts.
During trial proceedings, the court heard that Mpofu and Chimombe used forged documents to secure an US$87 million government contract to supply more than 500,000 goats under the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme. The programme was designed to enhance food security, nutrition and income generation for vulnerable groups, including orphans and the elderly.
Instead, the two reportedly created a fictitious company, Blackdeck Livestock and Poultry Farming, using fraudulent tax and social security clearance certificates to mislead authorities. They received an advance payment of ZWL$1.6 billion (approximately US$7.7 million at the time) but delivered only 4,208 goats, far below the targeted 85,000 in the initial phase.
Evidence presented in court showed that the funds were diverted into other accounts and traded on the black market. The presiding judge described the offence as premeditated and said it caused significant financial and reputational harm to the Government.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the duo's application for leave to appeal their conviction and sentence on Friday. The hearing will be held in chambers, about a week after the restitution deadline elapsed.
Mpofu (50) and Chimombe (44) were convicted in December last year for defrauding the State of more than US$7 million in a scheme meant to supply goats to vulnerable rural households.
Mpofu was sentenced to 22 years in prison, with three years suspended for good behaviour and a further four years suspended on condition that he repays US$2,060,250.60 by February 28. Chimombe received a 17-year sentence, with three years suspended for good behaviour and two years suspended if he repays US$964,064.64 by the same deadline.
However, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development has confirmed that no payments have been made.
Permanent Secretary Professor Jiri said there had been no update regarding restitution. "We have not received an update yet," he said.
If the pair fail to meet the repayment deadline, they may petition the High Court for an extension of time to settle the outstanding amounts.
During trial proceedings, the court heard that Mpofu and Chimombe used forged documents to secure an US$87 million government contract to supply more than 500,000 goats under the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme. The programme was designed to enhance food security, nutrition and income generation for vulnerable groups, including orphans and the elderly.
Instead, the two reportedly created a fictitious company, Blackdeck Livestock and Poultry Farming, using fraudulent tax and social security clearance certificates to mislead authorities. They received an advance payment of ZWL$1.6 billion (approximately US$7.7 million at the time) but delivered only 4,208 goats, far below the targeted 85,000 in the initial phase.
Evidence presented in court showed that the funds were diverted into other accounts and traded on the black market. The presiding judge described the offence as premeditated and said it caused significant financial and reputational harm to the Government.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the duo's application for leave to appeal their conviction and sentence on Friday. The hearing will be held in chambers, about a week after the restitution deadline elapsed.
Source - HMetro
Join the discussion
Loading comments…
