“I Have 3 Wives & 15 Children”: Mike Chimombe Pleads For Leniency As State Pushes For 35 Years

Mike Chimombe Pleads For Leniency Citing 3 Wives And 15 Children

Facing the prospect of 35 years behind bars, businessman Mike Chimombe pleaded for mercy from the Harare High Court, citing his three wives and 15 minor children as the state pushed for a maximum sentence. Chimombe and his co-accused, Moses Mpofu, were convicted for defrauding the state of US$7.7 million (approx. R140 million) in the Presidential Goat Scheme scandal. Prosecutor Whisper Mabhaudhi argued on Thursday, 4 December 2025, that the pair “stole from the poorest of the poor”. Sentencing is set for Monday, 8 December 2025.

“An Un-Solicited Person”: Chimombe’s Plea For Mercy

Zimlive reports that as the state demanded a 35-year prison term, Mike Chimombe’s defence team launched a heartfelt plea for leniency. His lawyer, Arshiel Mugiya, urged the court to consider Chimombe’s personal circumstances and his offer of restitution.

“He has three wives and 15 minor children, is a ‘rags-to-riches’ businessman, and was ready to make restitution,” Mugiya told the court.

Mugiya argued that his client was a first offender, a diabetic, and had already spent months in pre-trial custody. He presented Chimombe as a man who did not plan such a crime.

“He is an un-solicited person. He cannot sit down and premeditate such offences,” Mugiya stated.

The lawyer listed assets, including a Borrowdale house worth US$800,000 (approx. R14.4 million) and a Chinhoyi property valued at US$120,000 (approx. R2.2 million), which could be used to repay the state. Professor Lovemore Madhuku, also representing Chimombe, suggested the Ministry of Lands’ tender committee shared blame for the fraud.

State Prosecutor Demands Maximum Sentence For “Conscience-Shocking” Fraud

In stark contrast to the defence’s pleas, prosecutor Whisper Mabhaudhi painted the crime as a severe betrayal of public trust. He detailed how the government paid ZWL1.6 billion in 2022, then equivalent to US$7.7 million (approx. R140 million), for a contract secured with forged documents from an unregistered entity.

“Of the 85,000 goats they claimed to have mobilised, only 4,000 were delivered,” Mabhaudhi revealed. “This offence shocks the conscience.”

Mabhaudhi dismissed any notion of genuine remorse from the convicts, arguing that they had frustrated the trial process. He insisted a powerful message must be sent to deter similar crimes.

“There must be a message that if you take government tenders and don’t deliver, there will be consequences,” the prosecutor argued, firmly pushing for the full 35-year sentence.

Mpofu’s Apology And Revelation Of A US$1.5 Million Home

While Chimombe’s lawyers focused on his family, his co-accused, Moses Mpofu, took the stand and offered a belated apology. Appearing subdued during mitigation on 4 December, Mpofu directly addressed the nation and the President.

“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.

He blamed “poor internal controls” within their company, Blackdeck, for the forged tax documents. Under tough questioning from Mabhaudhi about his assets for potential restitution, Mpofu disclosed he owned a house worth US$1.5 million (approx. R27 million) but claimed it had been transferred to a family trust years earlier. He claimed he did not personally have the funds to repay the state.