Only a total of 6 978 goats were delivered by Mike Chimombe and his business partner Moses Mpofu under the presidential goat scheme despite receiving full payment for 86 000 goats, a senior government official told the Parliamentary portfolio committee on Public Accounts on Monday.
The presidential goat scheme was intended to introduce good genetics to enable communities to upgrade the quality of their goats.
Appearing before the committee, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary, Prof Obert Jiri, said the presidential goat scheme suffered setbacks due to non-delivery of the goats.
“The goats that were delivered to date (are) 6 978. The payment that was done was for the delivery of 86 000 goats. That was the potential that could have been delivered. So out of 86 000, only 6 978 (goats) were delivered,” he said.
“So, of course, the major bone of contention was this non-delivery, but before that it was the price for goods, which we tried to negotiate within the confines of the contract to say that goods must go to this, and I think we had agreed to a decent price. But even when we had agreed, the delivery could not happen,” he told the parliamentarians.
The suppliers, Chimombe and Mpofu, are in remand prison facing criminal charges since June this year after being arrested for failing to deliver the goats to the Ministry under the Presidential Goat Scheme.
Through a company called Blackdeck Private Limited, the duo won a tender of the Ministry for the supply of 632 001 goats under the presidential goat scheme worth US$87 757 757. A 30 percent down payment of ZW1.6 billion, equivalent to US$7 712 197, was paid to the duo.
This was enough to buy at least 86 000 goats, but only 6 978 were bought and delivered.
Under the goat scheme, the beneficiaries were supposed to pass on the animal after kidding to ensure wider community coverage and benefit.
The state claims it was prejudiced of US$7,380,751.85 by the duo. NewZiana