Fraud-accused Harare businessmen Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu have been denied bail by Magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa.
The magistrate ruled that the two were likely to reoffend, adding that their release would trigger unrest in the country.
Chimombe and Mpofu are accused of misappropriating US$7 million meant for a goat project benefiting Zimbabwean youth.
Gofa dismissed their bail application, noting that stringent reporting conditions would not work, so they should remain behind bars.
“Through the Investigating Officer, the state has averred that there are binding documents,” Gofa stated in her ruling.
“Applicants (Chimombe and Mpofu) gave mere responses instead of meaningful defenses,” she continued.
“Applicants should offer the court a substantial defense rather than mere denial,” Gofa emphasized.
“For avoidance of doubt, applicants were not coming from home; they were in ZACC custody,” she clarified.
“The ZACC officials complied with the law in detaining them,” Gofa added. “The State has provided compelling reasons for denying bail to the accused,” she concluded.
“The court must secure the needs of justice; the applicants might reoffend and cause unrest,” Gofa explained.
“They might flee to other countries, and no bail conditions can alleviate these fears,” she ruled. “Bail is hereby denied,” Gofa declared.
Chimombe and Mpofu will be tried at the High Court, with their indictment set for August 7.
However, their lawyers announced plans to appeal against Gofa’s ruling immediately.
“We do not agree with that judgment, but we respect it as lawyers,” their attorney Ashiel Mugiya said.
“As officers of the court, we will appeal in the High Court if the magistrate court denies us bail,” Mugiya explained.
“Following our clients’ instructions, we will proceed with an appeal at the High Court,” he concluded.
