Businessman Moses Mpofu and partner Mike Chimombe were found guilty of fraud after a trial that kept them jailed for 16 months. Justice Pisirayi Kwenda ruled Mpofu undermined his defense by admitting he acted as company director while failing to call witnesses who could support his claims. The judge rejected arguments that Chimombe merely attended meetings as a mediator and determined both men controlled the fraudulent operation.
The pair won a government contract to supply 632,001 goats worth $87.7 million for a presidential poverty program, but delivered only 4,208 animals. They submitted fake tax and social security documents for their unregistered company, Blackdeck Livestock, and diverted $7.4 million from the $7.7 million advance payment to personal use. The court will announce its prison sentences next week following a pre-sentence hearing on October 31.
