The Supreme Court yesterday struck off the roll an application by jailed businessman Moses Mpofu, who was seeking condonation for the late filing of his request for leave to appeal. Justice George Chiweshe dismissed the application, citing what he described as “fatal defects.”
The case will now proceed on April 7, after both parties consented to postponing the matter and consolidating Mpofu’s application with that of Mike Chimombe, who filed his papers on time. Defence and State counsel agreed the delay would allow the defence to address outstanding procedural issues while the registrar prepares a complete and accurate record for consideration by the superior court.
Mpofu and Chimombe who were both clad in khaki prison uniforms appeared via the Supreme Court’s Virtual Hub, but persistent technical glitches, including system breakdowns, forced the court to revert to a physical hearing in open court.
The pair is seeking leave to appeal a High Court ruling that dismissed their attempt to challenge their convictions and sentences for orchestrating large-scale fraud under the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme.
High Court judge Justice Pisirayi Kwenda previously rejected their arguments, branding them “frivolous and vexatious.”
Mpofu is serving a 19-year sentence, part of which is suspended on condition he repays more than US$2 million. Chimombe received 14 years, with a portion suspended on condition he reimburses over US$964,000.
The scheduled Supreme Court hearing will determine whether the duo may proceed with their full appeal against the High Court judgment. Until then, both men remain in custody.
