BY COSTA NKOMO
Harare Magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa has denied bail Zanu PF linked businessmen Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu on the grounds that the duo is a flight risk and that their release is likely to cause public protests.
Chimombe and Mpofu were arrested on 26 June 2024 and were charged with defrauding government to the tune US$7 million dollars after the duo was awarded a tender to supply goats to the vulnerable rural people under the Ministry of Agriculture Presidential Goat Scheme.
They have been in jail since 26 June.
Chimombe and Mpofu were remanded in custody to the 7th of August and their lawyers said they do not agree with Gofa’s judgement and will therefore appeal bail denial ruling at the High Court.
Mugiya, said his clients have instructed them to contest the ruling at the High Court.
“We do not agree with the judgement, but we respect it. We have instructions from our clients to appeal the ruling and that is what we going to do,” Mugiya said.
Meanwhile, High Court judge Justic3 Munamato Mutevedzi will deliver judgment on or before Thursday 18 July 2024 on the bail applications appeal by members of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC77) who have been languishing in prison since June 16, after the group was arrested at a private residence while commemorating the Day of the African Child.
The arrested included CCC party administrator James Timba who had offered his home as a venue for the celebrations was also arrested.
The CCC76 were subsequently denied bail by Harare Magistrate Ruth Moyo on the 27th of June 2024 before launching an appeal at the High Court.
