State drops charges against Mike Chimombe, Moses Mpofu
In a dramatic courtroom twist, the State has withdrawn fraud charges against embattled businessman Moses Mpofu and ZANU PF Central Committee member Mike Chimombe. The two were accused of fraudulently acquiring a tender to supply streetlights to Harare City Council.
The charges were dropped just as the high-profile trial was about to begin, shocking observers and igniting debate on social media.
“State has withdrawn fraud case against Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe,” announced HStvNews in a breaking update. “The trial was due to start.”
The case centred on allegations that Mpofu and Chimombe were improperly awarded a lucrative Harare City Council streetlights tender, reportedly worth millions. The prosecution’s sudden move means the pair will not face trial for that contract – at least for now.
The two men, who have spent over 11 months in remand prison, had previously been denied bail multiple times as the case dragged on.
Goat deal casts long shadow
Despite the withdrawal of the lights fraud charges, Mpofu and Chimombe are not yet in the clear. Both still face serious allegations related to the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme.
Chimombe stands accused of securing a government contract to supply 632,001 goats worth US$87 million (about R1.6 billion) but delivering only a fraction. The State alleges that Chimombe’s company received millions in payments, but most of the goats were never delivered.
Mpofu is also tied to the same goat tender and faces an additional fraud charge involving a biogas project in Mbare, allegedly worth US$415,290 (about R7.7 million). It’s claimed Mpofu and others inflated the cost of the EU-funded energy project while misleading authorities about capacity and delivery.
The goat scheme trial has been stalling in court, with judges yet to rule on key documents presented by the State. The biogas case is also pending, with Mpofu maintaining his innocence.
What this means for Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu
The withdrawal of the Harare streetlights tender charges does not mean Mpofu and Chimombe are walking free. The two men will remain in custody as they still have pending fraud cases before the courts.
For Chimombe, the only charge left is the US$87 million goat tender case. For Mpofu, two cases remain — one involving the same goat tender and the other linked to the Mbare biogas contract.
While the lights tender case has collapsed, prosecutors and investigators insist more charges could still be filed depending on fresh evidence. ZACC, in particular, has vowed to “pursue all leads” and bring all those involved to justice.
For now, Chimombe and Mpofu remain behind bars – and the court battles are far from over.
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The post State Withdraws Fraud Charges Against Mike Chimombe And Moses Mpofu – What This Means appeared first on iHarare News.
