By Suleman Chitera
Harare – Zimbabwean business partners Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms after being convicted of defrauding the government of US$7.3 million in a botched tender to supply goats.
Mpofu was handed a 22-year prison sentence, with three years conditionally suspended. Of the remaining 19 years, the court further suspended four years on condition that he repays the money – although the exact figure was not disclosed. This leaves him with an effective prison term of 15 years.
Chimombe was sentenced to 17 years in prison, with three years suspended. The court also ordered that two additional years be suspended if he restitutes US$964,024, reducing his effective sentence to 12 years in jail.
The two were found guilty of fraudulently securing and misusing government funds meant for a livestock supply programme that never materialised as planned.
The case has drawn significant public attention, with many Zimbabweans calling for tougher action against corruption and abuse of public resources.
Source: ZimLive
