Former Agriculture Official Basera Testifies in High-Profile Chimombe And Mpofu Goat Supply Fraud Case

Patie30/05/2025

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Basera Testifies against Chimombe and Mpofu-Image Source@iharare

A former senior agriculture official John Basera provided crucial testimony Thursday in the ongoing fraud trial involving businessmen Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu, who allegedly received millions for undelivered livestock under a government program.

John Basera, previously the permanent secretary for agriculture, appeared before the High Court to detail how a contract for 600,000 goats resulted in only about 3,000 animals being delivered despite full payment being made.

Questionable Procurement Process Revealed

Basera explained that the businessmen’s company, Blackdeck, had secured the lucrative contract in 2021 after being approved by the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) and identified as the lowest bidder. The ministry only discovered allegedly falsified tax documents during subsequent investigations.

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“The evaluation committee followed proper procedures at the time,” Basera stated. “We had no reason to doubt the authenticity of their documentation initially.”

Price Negotiations and Payment Details

The former official described how he intervened when he noticed the original pricing structure appeared inflated. “The proposed rates of $175 to $250 per goat raised concerns about value for public funds,” he testified. “Through negotiations, we successfully reduced the price range to $75-$95 per animal based on breed quality.”

According to court testimony, Blackdeck received two payments totaling ZW$1.9 billion (equivalent to $7.9 million at the time) in April and June 2022. Basera noted that Chimombe didn’t personally sign any contracts, with Mpofu handling documentation alongside a witness named Tinashe Chimombe.

Massive Delivery Shortfall Discovered

The scheme unravelled when ministry inspectors visited holding pens where Blackdeck claimed to have 32,000 goats ready for distribution. “Our teams found fewer than 3,000 animals on site,” Basera revealed. “This enormous discrepancy prompted immediate demands for either full delivery or financial restitution.”

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The high-profile case continues Friday with defense attorneys expected to cross-examine the former agriculture official about the failed livestock procurement deal that has drawn national attention.