Crimes and Courts Reporter
A senior government official has revealed that Mike Chimombe and his business partner Moses Mpofu delivered only 6,978 goats under the Presidential Goat Scheme, despite having received full payment for 86,000 goats.
This information was presented during a session of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts on Monday.
The Presidential Goat Scheme was designed to introduce better genetics to improve the quality of goats within communities. Prof. Obert Jiri, the permanent secretary for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, stated,
“The goats that were delivered to date (are) 6,978. The payment that was done was for the delivery of 86,000 goats. That was the potential that could have been delivered. So out of 86,000, only 6,978 (goats) were delivered.”
He emphasized that the primary issue was the non-delivery of the goats, although there were also concerns regarding the pricing of goods.
“The major bone of contention was this non-delivery, but before that it was the price for goods, which we tried to negotiate within the confines of the contract,” he explained.
Chimombe and Mpofu are currently in remand prison facing criminal charges since June for failing to deliver the goats as stipulated in the contract with the Ministry. Through their company, Blackdeck Private Limited, they secured a tender worth US$87,757,757 for the supply of 632,001 goats. A 30 percent down payment of ZW1.6 billion, equivalent to US$7,712,197, was made to them, which was sufficient to purchase at least 86,000 goats. However, only 6,978 goats were actually bought and delivered.
The scheme was intended to benefit the community by allowing beneficiaries to pass on the goats after kidding, thereby ensuring wider coverage. The state claims it was prejudiced by US$7,380,751.85 due to the duo’s failure to fulfill their contractual obligations.
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