Chimombe, Mpofu ‘re-arrested’ over Harare tender scandal

By Staff Reporter

Jailed business partners Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu’s legal woes have mounted after the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) said Wednesday it has opened fresh corruption charges against them in relation to a Harare City Council streetlighting tender fraud.

The two, already languishing in remand prison over a botched goat supply tender issued to the pair by government, are cited in a ZACC statement as Juluka Enndo Joint Venture officials.

According to ZACC, the two allegedly falsified company documents to win the tender with the Harare City Council.

“ZACC has (re) arrested Juluka Enndo Venture officials Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe on allegations of corruptly using false documents,” ZACC said in a statement. 

“Mpofu and Chimombe allegedly submitted false documents while applying for a Harare City Council tender to rehabilitate streetlights.”

The anti-graft body says sometime in May 2024, the Harare City Council floated a tender for two lots to fix streetlights.

Mpofu and Chimombe responded to the advert while acting for Juluka Enndo Joint Venture.

The two, according to ZACC, while using the doctored documents, misrepresented that they were compliant with the provisions of Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets General Regulations.

They resubmitted a receipt which they had used in an earlier bid in which their company had been disqualified.

“The accused (Mpofu and Chimombe) also allegedly submitted a financial report claiming it was audited by a consultancy company which investigations have revealed is not registered,” ZACC said.

“They allegedly further misrepresented that they had undertaken similar work for the City of Harare and were experienced in installing streetlights.

“Juluka Enddo Joint Venture was awarded a tender on the basis of falsified information.”

Mpofu and Chimombe were set to appear before a Harare magistrate on Wednesday 31 July 2024 over the fresh charges.