Chimombe Jailed 17 Years, Mpofu 22 Years For Goat Scheme Fraud- iHarare News

Zimbabwe Businessmen Get Lengthy Jail Terms For Tender Fraud

In a landmark ruling that has captivated the nation, controversial businessmen Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu were sentenced to 17 and 22 years in prison, respectively, for defrauding the government’s Presidential Goat Scheme.

The final gavel fell at the Harare High Court on 8 December 2025, with Justice Pisirayi Kwenda delivering the decisive verdict after the pair were convicted in late October. Crucially, large portions of the sentences were suspended, meaning Chimombe will serve an effective 12 years behind bars, while Mpofu will serve an effective 15 years.

The convictions stem from a US$87.7 million (approx. R1.67 billion) tender to supply 632,001 goats intended for orphans, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups. The court found that the duo, through their company Blackdeck, used forged documents to win the contract but delivered a mere fraction of the promised livestock.

“A Conscience-Shocking Offence”

During tense pre-sentencing hearings on 4 December 2025, the state, led by Prosecutor Whisper Mabhaudhi, painted a picture of calculated theft from the nation’s most desperate citizens. Mabhaudhi pushed for the maximum penalty of 35 years.

He laid out the devastating details of the failed scheme, stating:

“They stole from the poorest of the poor. Of the 85,000 goats they claimed to have mobilised, only 4,000 were delivered. This offence shocks the conscience.”

Mabhaudhi argued there was no genuine remorse, revealing that public funds had been diverted for personal gain.

“Mpofu had spoken of how he upgraded roads, a dam and his farm using part of the US$7.7 million (approx. R147 million) which was never accounted for,” he told the court.

Last-Minute Apologies & The Defence’s Plea

Facing the prospect of decades in prison, a subdued Moses Mpofu offered a late apology during mitigation. He directly addressed the court, the nation, and the head of state.

“I want to say to Zimbabweans: I’m sorry. I regret that the Presidential Goat Scheme did not go as planned. I also apologise to President Emmerson Mnangagwa,” Mpofu said.

Chimombe’s defence team, led by lawyer Arshiel Mugiya, fought for a lesser sentence. Mugiya cited his client’s chronic health issues, his status as a first-time offender with a large family, and his willingness to make restitution using properties valued at nearly US$1 million (approx. R19 million).

“He is an un-solicited person. He cannot sit down and premeditate such offences,” Mugiya contended, arguing Chimombe played a minor role.

Justice Kwenda’s Final Judgement

In his comprehensive sentencing remarks, Justice Kwenda systematically rejected the defence’s mitigation and outlined the gravity of the crime. He emphasised the sophisticated, premeditated nature of the fraud, which involved a company that did not legally exist.

The judge stated:

“We convicted the two as co-perpetrators. Blackdeck Livestock and Poultry Farming was a non-existent company. The fraud was committed through the submission of counterfeit tax clearance documents.”

He highlighted that the forgery was of such high quality that it deceived seasoned officials from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) and the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), noting their testimony that the documents “looked genuine” and only a QR code scan revealed the fraud.

While acknowledging Mpofu’s late apology and their status as first offenders, the judge found overwhelming aggravating circumstances: the vast sum of public money involved, the lack of recovery, and the betrayal of a welfare scheme for the poor. He settled on a presumptive sentence of 20 years, from which he added and subtracted more years depending on differing circumstances.

For Chimombe, 5 years were suspended (3 for good behaviour, 2 for restitution). For Mpofu, 7 years were suspended (3 for good behaviour, 4 for restitution). This left the two businessmen with effective prison terms of 12 and 15 years, closing a chapter on one of Zimbabwe’s most audacious corruption cases.

Chimombe and Mpofu have indicated that they will appeal both the conviction and the sentence after their legal representatives applied for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.