The trial of businessmen Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe, which was scheduled to begin today, has been postponed to tomorrow after the defence indicated it was not ready. The case, brought forward by the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe, involves allegations of fraud surrounding a government tender.
According to the prosecution, Mpofu and Chimombe are accused of forging a ZIMRA tax clearance certificate and an NSSA compliance certificate under the name of Blackdeck Private Limited. The fraudulent documents were allegedly submitted with a bidding proposal to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, and Rural Development for a tender to supply and deliver goats for the Presidential Goat Pass-on Scheme.
The businessmen are further accused of misrepresenting the company’s full compliance with ZIMRA and NSSA requirements in an attempt to win the tender.
The trial has now been rescheduled to allow the defence time to prepare its case.