KEY POINTS
- The goat tender fraud trial was delayed due to a lawyer’s absence.
- The judge urged a swift trial conclusion before the court term ends.
- Mpofu and Chimombe remain in jail, accused of a $7 million fraud.
After a defense attorney was unable to attend due to a family tragedy, the trial of businessmen Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe—who are accused of defrauding the state of $7 million in a botched goat supply tender—was postponed.
Goat tender fraud trial postponed due to lawyer’s bereavement
The High Court was notified on Monday that one of the defense attorneys, advocate Tapson Dzvetero, lost his brother-in-law and is going to the burial.
Chapeta, who represented Dzvetero during the court sessions, informed Justice Pisirayi Kwenda that Dzvetero might not be available until February 19 or 20 and that the funeral is scheduled for Wednesday or Thursday.
The trial has been rescheduled to February 20 from its original plan to run continuously throughout the week.
Judge stresses urgency as court term nears its end
With just one month remaining in the current court term, Justice Kwenda pointed out that the matter needs to be resolved before the session concludes. Titus Mbambi, Fungai Kapfunde, and Beverly Mutsikamahwe were the first of seven witnesses to appear in court.
According to New Zimbabawe, Mpofu and Chimombe are charged with using a fictitious firm to fraudulently obtain a procurement from the Ministry of Lands. According to the state, they used corruption to get $7 million.
Since June 2023, the two have been detained after several bail requests were turned down.
