HARARE – John Basera, the former permanent secretary in the agriculture ministry, took the witness stand on Thursday in the $7.9 million fraud trial of businessmen Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu, who are accused of failing to deliver on an order for goats after taking payment.

Basera told the High Court in Harare that the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) had given the ministry a “no objection” letter when the deal was signed between the duo’s company, Blackdeck, and the ministry in 2021.

Basera also said the company was the lowest bidder and the tender evaluation committee had approved the deal.

The ministry, according to the former permanent secretary, was not aware that the company had submitted forged ZIMRA documents until investigations were carried out last year when the company had failed to deliver.

Blackdeck was supposed to supply the ministry 600,000 goats under the Presidential Goat Scheme.

However, according to Basera, only 3,000 goats or less were supplied.

Initially the price for each goat was between US$175 and US$250.

Basera testified: “As the accounting officer going with principle of value for money, I realised that US$7 million for 600,000 goats was exorbitant. Together with our team we discussed that even if PRAZ had made these recommendations, it was not okay.

“I suggested that we have a meeting with Blackdeck to discuss the price of each goat because their price range was between US$175 and US$250.

“We engaged the supplier and reduced the prices to US$75 and US$95 per goat depending on the breed and we agreed to proceed with the deal.”

He said Mike Chimombe did not sign any official documents. The documents according to him were signed by Mpofu while one Tinashe Chimombe witnessed.

Blackdeck was then paid ZW$1,9 billion in two instalments in April and June 2022 which was equivalent to US$7.9 million at the time of the transaction, he said.

After a while they then said they had managed to secure 32,000 goats which they kept in holding pens.

When officials from the ministry went to confirm, they were shocked to find less than 3,000 goats in the holding pens, Basera told the court.

Conflict then arose, with the ministry demanding restitution or guarantees if the company failed to supply the 600,000 goats as per contract.

The trial continues on Friday with lawyers cross-examining Basera.