ZANU PF central committee member and businessman Mike Chimombe yesterday told a Harare magistrate that he was being victimised by people with a political agenda after being implicated in a US$9,2 million tender scandal for installation of streetlights in the capital.
Chimombe and his co-accused Moses Mpofu pleaded not guilty during their bail application before Harare magistrate Stanford Mambanje.
Chimombe and Mpofu are being represented by Arshiel Mugiya.
In his defence, Chimombe argued that he was not in any way associated to Juluka Projects and Plant Hire (Pvt) Ltd.
Mugiya told the court that Chimombe was not a “member, employee, director or a shareholder of Juluka Projects (Pvt) Limited. In any event, Juluka Projects (Pvt) Limited is not even charged with any criminal allegations.”
The defence said the US$206 146,13 in question was not received by Chimombe but was a payment made by the City of Harare for services rendered by Mpofu’s company, contrary to State allegations.
It also submitted that the amount was not an advance payment and was an invoiced amount because Mpofu’s company had already done the work.
Mugiya also said Mpofu was not guilty, arguing that his client was only a director of the company that received the tender.
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“He is charged in his personal capacity when in actual fact, a company called Juluka Projects (Pvt) Limited, which is a separate legal entity, was the one which was awarded the tender by the City of Harare,” he said.
He also said Mpofu was not the direct contact person who handled tenders on behalf of Juluka Projects (Pvt) Limited.
Mpofu denied submitting a bid document which contained false statements as alleged.
The matter was postponed to August 27 for bail ruling.
