Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza-Court Correspondent
Business partners Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu yesterday had their application rejected for refusal of further remand on charges of fraud over a streetlight tender they are both facing.
Harare regional magistrate Mr Taurai Manuwere’s dismissal of the application highlights the seriousness of the charges they face, as the investigations are finalised and the complex prosecution is prepared.
Magistrate Manuwere ruled that the application was premature and the two must afford the State adequate time to prepare its case, as mandated by law.
Chimombe and Mpofu face grave allegations of submitting counterfeit documents in their pursuit of a lucrative US$9 million tender for the rehabilitation of Harare’s street lighting infrastructure.
The State alleges that in January of last year, the Harare City Council initiated the process to revitalise streetlights in anticipation of the impending SADC summit.
Subsequently, the council extended an invitation for bids, drawing responses from eleven companies, including Juluka Endo Joint Venture (Pvt) Ltd, a firm co-owned by Mpofu.
The tender invitation explicitly asked all potential bidders to provide duly stamped audited financial statements for the preceding two years. Additionally, it required evidence of payment for special procurement oversight committee fees, among other stipulations.
Allegations indicate that on April 19, last year, an evaluation committee awarded eight lots of the streetlight rehabilitation to four companies.
However, Mpofu’s enterprise faltered in meeting the essential criteria, as its audited financial statements lacked the requisite audit opinion — a critical prerequisite for participation in the bidding process.
In a surprising turn, the council extended an invitation to Mpofu’s company to submit a revised bid, which was subsequently resubmitted with documents containing fraudulent assertions.
It is alleged that Mpofu misrepresented his company’s compliance with general regulatory requirements.
Court documents reveal that Mpofu submitted a bid security dated March 26, previously used in an unsuccessful tender application.
Furthermore, he purportedly provided audit documents allegedly prepared by three consultancy firms, which, according to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, were unregistered entities.
Despite these discrepancies, Mpofu’s company was awarded the contract for two of the lots. The State contends that Chimombe affixed his signature as a witness, facilitating the disbursement of a partial payment amounting to US$260 000.
The proceedings have been adjourned to January 27 for routine remand, as the case continues to unfold amidst serious allegations of corruption and deceit.
daniel chigunwe
