Harare, Zimbabwe — In a continued legal battle, bail was once again denied for Harare businessmen Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu, who are accused of using falsified documents to secure a US$9.2 million contract to install street lights across Harare.
Harare regional magistrate Mrs. Marehwanazvo Gofa dismissed their latest bail application, which had been submitted under claims of “changed circumstances.”
Represented by attorneys Messrs. Arshiel Mugiya and Tapson Dzvetero, Chimombe and Mpofu argued that bail should be granted, pointing out that several of their alleged accomplices—Never Murerwa, Jabulani Mukomazi, Denford Zhungu, Tawanda Mutenhabundo, and Hosiah Chisango—had already been admitted to bail.
They further contended that significant time had passed since the initial charges and that the State’s investigations remained incomplete.
Despite these arguments, Magistrate Gofa rejected the application, noting that the circumstances surrounding Chimombe and Mpofu’s charges were distinct from those of their co-accused.
She emphasized that the State was progressing in its investigation, and the gravity of the allegations against the two necessitated their continued detention.
The case centers around allegations that Chimombe and Mpofu fraudulently secured the street lighting contract through the Juluka Enndo Joint Venture by submitting false documentation.
Prosecutor Mr. Anesu Chirenje stated that the alleged scheme began in January when the City of Harare invited bids for a street lighting project ahead of the 44th SADC Summit.
Initially, Juluka Enndo Joint Venture was disqualified for failing to meet key tender requirements, including the absence of an audit opinion in their financial records.
However, the joint venture was later invited to resubmit their bid. This revised submission, the prosecution contends, contained false claims of experience in street lighting installation in Harare’s central areas.
Chimombe and Mpofu allegedly cited Christmas lights installation work for the City of Harare as relevant experience and submitted an unused SPOC receipt from a prior disqualified bid.
Additionally, they are accused of using documents from an unregistered consultancy firm to meet audit requirements.
Despite these irregularities, the joint venture secured the lucrative contract, ultimately receiving a partial payment of US$260,000.
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