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Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 41052, member: 636"] The fraud trial against business partners Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu continued with testimony from Dr John Basera about the Presidential Goats Pass-On Scheme. Dr Basera served as Permanent Secretary for Agriculture when Blackdeck company won the contract to supply goats during November 2023. Chimombe claims he had no involvement with the deal and the two defendants present separate legal defenses. Professor Lovemore Madhuku questioned Dr Basera about any direct contact with Chimombe during the bidding process. The witness said he never personally interacted with Chimombe during contract negotiations or signing ceremonies. Dr Basera confirmed seeing Chimombe present during various meetings and the program launch event at Chipinge. The witness noticed Chimombe's surname appeared on the contract but Tinashe Chimombe signed as a witness rather than Mike Chimombe himself. Dr Basera told the court he doubted whether Mike Chimombe actually signed any official documents related to the goat supply agreement. Chimombe often accompanied Blackdeck representatives to ministry meetings and technical team discussions. The witness described Chimombe's involvement as spiritual and physical but without any formal signatures on paperwork. Defense lawyer Tapson Dzvetero presented documents showing civil legal procedures were available for contract disputes. Blackdeck proposed a 25 percent price reduction contingent upon timely payments to their nostro account during April 2022. The company received nearly one billion Zimbabwe dollars as part of a 12 million US dollar advance payment. The ministry requested 500 goat bucks for a presidential function at Chipinge despite ongoing contract scrutiny. The case centers on whether the tender process faced manipulation and payments went to fraudulent entities. [/QUOTE]

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