By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Harare- In a surprising development, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Wednesday withdrew corruption charges against business partners Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe, who were accused of defrauding the City of Harare in a US$9 million tender for the supply and installation of streetlights.
The duo appeared before Justice Benjamin Chikowero of the Harare High Court for the scheduled commencement of their trial. However, the charges were withdrawn before plea, with the NPA’s Whisper Mabhaudhi opting not to provide reasons for the decision.
However, Mpofu and Chimombe remain defendants in a separate case, where they are accused of defrauding the Ministry of Agriculture through a scheme involving the supply of goats.
Outside court, Mpofu’s lawyer, Tapson Dzvetero, welcomed the withdrawal, stating, “Our clients are on the record regarding the weakness of the state case and that the charges they are facing are trumped up, baseless, and unfounded. The withdrawal is a welcome development. It is only unfortunate that such a decision comes after long pre-trial incarceration.”
Chimombe’s legal representative, Ashiel Mugiya, echoed similar sentiments, adding, “We had prepared and submitted our defense outlines. I am confident the state has realized that its case was too weak.”
Chimombe previously challenged the NPA to prove his involvement in the streetlights tender, a motion that was dismissed by Magistrate Dennis Mangosi. It was alleged that the partners misrepresented facts when submitting their list of previous works to secure the tender.
Mpofu, considered the main suspect in the case, was arrested by officers from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) while already in remand prison, following his arrest over a separate US$7 million goat supply tender.
Chimombe claimed he was neither an employee nor a director of Juluka Enndo Joint Venture, the company at the center of the streetlight deal.