By Victor Fanuel
Harare – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Wednesday withdrew corruption charges against business partners Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe, who had been accused of defrauding the City of Harare in a US$9 million streetlight supply and installation tender.
The charges were withdrawn before plea when the duo appeared before Justice Benjamin Chikowero at the Harare High Court for the commencement of their trial.
Whisper Mabhaudhi, representing the NPA, did not provide reasons for the withdrawal.
Mpofu and Chimombe are still facing trial in a separate case involving allegations of defrauding the ministry of agriculture in a goat supply scheme.
“The withdrawal of the charges by the state is a welcome development,” said Mpofu’s lawyer, Tapson Dzvetero, outside the court.
“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.
“They have no case to answer. It is only unfortunate that such withdrawal happens after all this long and after the long pre-trial incarceration for so long.”
Chimombe’s lawyer, Ashiel Mugiya, added: “We had prepared and submitted our defence outlines. I’m certain the state just realised that its case against our clients was too weak.”
Last year, Chimombe challenged the state to prove his connection to the streetlight tender, but his application was dismissed by Magistrate Dennis Mangosi.
Mpofu was the main suspect in the alleged offense.
The two were arrested by officers from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) while already in remand prison following their earlier arrest related to the US$7 million goat supply tender.
Chimombe argued that he was neither an employee nor a director of Juluka Enndo Joint Venture, the company at the centre of the streetlight deal.
The prosecution had alleged that the pair had criminally misrepresented their past work experience when submitting documents for the tender.
