Businessmen Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu will spend another weekend in jail owing to the unavailability of the presiding magistrate dealing with the bail application since she is not feeling well.
The bail hearing failed to resume for the second time this week and was adjourned to Monday morning by Harare regional magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje with the expectation that presiding magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa would have recovered.
The two are accused of fraud involving US$7 million they received from Government to buy goats for the Presidential Goat Scheme.
The bail hearing will continue with the cross examination of the leading investigating officer from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) by the defence lawyers.
During the last court session, investigating officer Mr Henry Chapwanya told the court that the prosecution intended to lead 13 witnesses and had already recorded statements from six of them. He submitted that there was a high likelihood that the two would interfere with witnesses since they had interacted with some during negotiations for the goat tender from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.
The State is alleging that Mpofu and Chimombe forged documents so their company would appear qualified and be allowed to tender for supplying goats under the Presidential Goat Scheme, a tender the company eventually won.
Prosecutor Mr Anesu Chirenje tendered documentary evidence in the form of a memo that was circulated on social media by the two, stating that the money they were given by the Government for the project was around US$4 million equivalent.
He also tendered a National Social Security Authority (NSSA) clearance certificate, which is said to be fake, and a forged compliance certificate in the name of Blackdeck Pvt Ltd, as well as minutes recorded by the Ministry of Lands when they convened a meeting with Blackdeck Pvt Ltd, and the affidavit of Mr Chapwanya.
