HARARE – Corruption-accused business partners Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe took the witness stand on Tuesday as they asked a court to refer their case to the Constitutional Court. Appearing before Justice Pisirayi Kwenda of the Harare High Court, the duo argued that their rights to liberty and legal protection were violated by Michael Reza, the head of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), when he stopped their release on bail. Under the guidance of their lawyer, Ashiel Mugiya, Mpofu expressed his astonishment upon being charged in connection with a tender to supply goats to the government, when an initial invitation to speak to investigators from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption commission stated that he would be answering questions over alleged corruption in over US$100 million in contracts awarded by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to South African company, Ren-Form CC and its business partner, Wicknell Chivayo.
“I was in China when I started receiving calls and messages from friends and family who informed me that I was being sought by ZACC. The situation was also circulating on social media, where the ZACC chairperson (Reza) commented on leaked audio recordings (of Chivayo). He said they had evidence (about ZEC contracts corruption) and wished to interview myself, Mike Chimombe, and Chivayo,” he explained.
Mpofu said upon their return to Zimbabwe, they attended an appointment at ZACC with their lawyers, anticipating an interview about the ZEC tender. Inste.