Imprisoned Harare businessmen Moses Mpofu and Mike are expected back in court on Wednesday as they apply for permission to challenge both their conviction and the sentences imposed in a multimillion-dollar fraud case.
The pair were found guilty last year of defrauding the State of more than US$7 million in connection with the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme, a government programme aimed at boosting rural livelihoods through livestock distribution.
Through their lawyers, Mpofu and Chimombe argue that the trial court erred in its assessment of both the facts and the law, insisting that the verdict was flawed. They continue to deny any wrongdoing and maintain that the evidence did not justify their conviction.
If their application for leave to appeal is successful, the matter will be referred to the Supreme Court for review. Should the court decline the request, the two may still approach the Supreme Court directly to seek relief.
The fraud charges arose from a government contract to supply goats under the empowerment scheme, overseen by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development. Mpofu, trading through his company, secured the tender but allegedly failed to deliver the livestock despite receiving payment.
Mpofu is currently serving a 15-year jail term, while Chimombe was handed a 12-year sentence.
The case has attracted widespread public interest due to the large sums involved and the fact that the scheme was intended to support vulnerable rural communities.
