The court had to wait again because Mike Chimombe didn't come. His lawyers said he was sick with an infection. Judge Pisirayi Kwenda heard that Mike became sick on the weekend. The doctors think he will feel better in seven days.
"Mr. Chimombe cannot stand trial today because he isn't feeling well," said his lawyer. "I have a paper from February 22, 2025, from his doctor. The paper says he should recover within seven days. I ask that we meet again next Monday, March 3, to start the trial."
The trial should have started last year, but it will hopefully begin next Monday instead. Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe were arrested in June last year and have stayed in jail since then.
The government says it did something wrong. In September 2021, it sent papers through a company called Black Deck Private Limited. The farming ministry wanted someone to supply 632,001 goats. This project cost US$87,757,168. People who received goats would give baby goats to others who needed them.
After they won the job, a different company signed the papers. This company was called Black Deck Livestock and Poultry Farming. It wasn't even registered. Mpofu spoke for the company, and Chimombe watched as a witness.
The government looked at the papers more carefully. They found the company didn't have proper tax papers for 2021. Also, a special code on their security certificate belonged to another company called Skywalk Investments. These papers were needed to apply for the job.
The ministry believed them and paid 30 percent of the money. They paid ZWL1.6 billion, which equaled about US$7,712,197. The money came in two payments on April 21, 2022, and June 29, 2022.
The goats were late, and the ministry asked why. The company said they had 32,500 goats ready across the country, but when the ministry checked, they found only 3,713 goats.
The ministry canceled the contract on August 29, 2022, when they realized they were tricked. Until today, only 4,208 goats worth US$331,445.25 have been delivered. The ministry lost US$7,380,751.85.
"Mr. Chimombe cannot stand trial today because he isn't feeling well," said his lawyer. "I have a paper from February 22, 2025, from his doctor. The paper says he should recover within seven days. I ask that we meet again next Monday, March 3, to start the trial."
The trial should have started last year, but it will hopefully begin next Monday instead. Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe were arrested in June last year and have stayed in jail since then.
The government says it did something wrong. In September 2021, it sent papers through a company called Black Deck Private Limited. The farming ministry wanted someone to supply 632,001 goats. This project cost US$87,757,168. People who received goats would give baby goats to others who needed them.
After they won the job, a different company signed the papers. This company was called Black Deck Livestock and Poultry Farming. It wasn't even registered. Mpofu spoke for the company, and Chimombe watched as a witness.
The government looked at the papers more carefully. They found the company didn't have proper tax papers for 2021. Also, a special code on their security certificate belonged to another company called Skywalk Investments. These papers were needed to apply for the job.
The ministry believed them and paid 30 percent of the money. They paid ZWL1.6 billion, which equaled about US$7,712,197. The money came in two payments on April 21, 2022, and June 29, 2022.
The goats were late, and the ministry asked why. The company said they had 32,500 goats ready across the country, but when the ministry checked, they found only 3,713 goats.
The ministry canceled the contract on August 29, 2022, when they realized they were tricked. Until today, only 4,208 goats worth US$331,445.25 have been delivered. The ministry lost US$7,380,751.85.
