Moses Mpofu, Mike Chimombe to Be Sentenced Today for US$7 Million Goat Scheme Fraud

Businessmen Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe are expected to be sentenced today at the High Court following their conviction for defrauding the State of more than US$7 million under the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme.

The two were found guilty of siphoning funds from the programme, which was designed to support vulnerable households across the country through the distribution of goats meant to enhance community livelihoods.

According to court findings, Mpofu and Chimombe received large sums of money for the supply of goats but failed to deliver as contracted, prejudicing the State and undermining a key government poverty alleviation initiative.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is today expected to push forward its application for asset recovery as part of efforts to reclaim the lost public funds. Prosecutors have indicated that the recovery process will target properties and assets suspected to have been acquired using proceeds of the fraud.

The case has drawn national attention as one of the largest corruption scandals linked to a social support programme in recent years.