THE GOATS, THE JAIL CELLS, AND ZANU PF’S DIRTY GAME

Harare has once again given us a story that feels like a bad movie, but with real victims and real pain. Two businessmen, Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe, are now sitting in prison cells, learning the hard way how power really works in Zimbabwe. For years they walked freely, dressed well, spoke big, and moved with confidence, believing they were untouchable because they were close to the powerful people in ZANU PF.

Their troubles began after a serious fight with their former partner, Wicknell Chivayo. This was not a small disagreement. It was about money, influence, and control. When Mpofu and Chimombe were linked to exposing a huge US$100 million Zimbabwe Electoral Commission scandal, things changed fast. Chivayo was angry, and word spread that he wanted them punished. In Zimbabwe, anger from the wrong person can destroy your life.

Soon after, the state moved in. The two men were charged and later convicted in October for a US$7.7 million fraud linked to the US$87 million Presidential Goat Scheme. This scheme was sold to the public as help for poor people, a promise of meat and jobs. In reality, it became another feeding trough for the elite, while ordinary citizens continued to suffer without food, money, or hope.

On Monday, the High Court handed down heavy sentences. Mpofu was given a total of 22 years, with seven years suspended. This means he will serve about 15 years if nothing changes. Chimombe received 17 years, with five years suspended, leaving him with about 12 years behind bars. Both were also ordered to pay back large sums of money. These sentences shocked many people, not because corruption was punished, but because it is so rare in Zimbabwe.

The state wanted even harsher punishment, asking for 35 years. The judge instead started from a 20-year point, which already shows how soft the system can be when dealing with the rich and connected. Still, compared to the usual pattern where big criminals walk free, this outcome surprised the nation.

Mpofu and Chimombe say they are innocent victims of politics. They claim they were used and thrown away in a power game. Their lawyers, hired from outside the country, warned that the case was political and dangerous. They even said the men should not have returned home after a trip to China in June 2024. Friends also warned them. They were told the courts were captured and the trap was set.

But they came back anyway. They trusted money, contacts, and arrogance. They believed bribes could bury the scandal forever. Instead, it buried their freedom. Now the private jets are gone, the luxury is finished, and prison reality has arrived.

This case sends a clear message, but not a hopeful one. It shows that corruption is punished only when it upsets the wrong people. ZANU PF does not fight corruption. It manages it. It allows it to grow, then cuts it down when it becomes inconvenient.

As the two men plan their appeals, Zimbabweans watch closely. Some feel satisfaction. Others feel fear. Many know the truth. In this country, justice is not about right or wrong. It is about power. Today it was goats and businessmen. Tomorrow, it could be anyone who steps on the wrong political toes.