Guilty As Charged: High Court Convicts Mike Chimombe And Moses Mpofu in Goat Scheme Scandal
In a dramatic conclusion to a landmark corruption case, controversial businessmen Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu have been found guilty of fraud. The High Court verdict, delivered on October 22, 2025, marks the fall of two of Zimbabwe's business titans.
The Verdict
After months of testimony, High Court judge Justice Pisirayi Kwenda delivered the verdict on October 22, 2025. After a judgment reading that lasted nearly three hours, both Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu were found guilty of fraud in connection with the failed Presidential Goat Scheme.
Following the guilty verdict, both men were immediately remanded in custody. The High Court will hear arguments from the prosecution and defence before Justice Kwenda delivers his sentence on October 31, 2025.
Anatomy of the Fraud
The case centred on the Presidential Goat Scheme, a government project to empower rural farmers. In 2021, Chimombe and Mpofu’s company, Blackdeck, won a tender to supply 600,000 goats to the Ministry of Agriculture. However, former secretary John Basera testified that the ministry had relied on documents, including ZIMRA clearances, that were later discovered to have been forged.
Court evidence revealed that Blackdeck was paid ZW$1.9 billion (then equivalent to US$7.9 million or R147.5 million) in two instalments in April and June 2022. In return, the company delivered fewer than 3,000 goats—a delivery failure rate of over 99.5%.
Justice Kwenda found that Chimombe and Mpofu had deliberately misrepresented their company’s capacity to fulfil the tender and had misappropriated the state funds intended for the livestock project. Despite negotiations that significantly reduced the contracted price per goat, the pair still failed to deliver.
What Comes Next?
On October 31, the High Court will hear final arguments before sentencing. Legal experts note that the gravity of the crime, the significant financial prejudice to the state, and the amount of money involved will be major factors. Given the scale of the fraud, a custodial sentence appears highly likely.
Once considered influential players in Zimbabwe’s business sector, Chimombe and Mpofu’s downfall has been swift and public. Their conviction marks one of the most significant corruption rulings in recent years, with the nation now awaiting the final chapter of this legal saga.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu are controversial Zimbabwean businessmen who were directors of the company Blackdeck.
They were found guilty of fraud by the High Court in Harare on October 22, 2025, for their role in the failed Presidential Goat Scheme.
Their company, Blackdeck, received ZW$1.9 billion, which was equivalent to US$7.9 million at the time, to supply 600,000 goats. They delivered fewer than 3,000.
Both men have been remanded in custody and are scheduled to be sentenced by the High Court on October 31, 2025.
David (Solar Sales)