A senior assistant Commissioner of Police from State House Davies Simwanza has denied having assigned Japhet Mwelwa to organise fuel for the Presidential motorcade.

In this matter, Mwelwa, a 43-year-old coordinator of farm 215A Mumbwa, is accused of swindling Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) secretary general Cosmas Mukuka out of K2,000 cash by pretending that it was meant to refuel a motor vehicle on Presidential duties.

He is also charged with an attempt to obtain money by false pretences.

It is alleged in the first count that Mwelwa on March 26, this year, in Lusaka, with intent to deceive or defraud attempted to obtain K2,000 from Wilson Shane by falsely pretending that it was meant to refuel a motor vehicle on Presidential duties.

And in the second count, Mwelwe is alleged to have on the same date and with intent to deceive or defraud, obtained K2,000 cash from Mukuka by falsely pretending that it was meant for refuel of a motor vehicle on Presidential duties.

The accused however pleaded not guilty before Lusaka magistrate Albert Mwaba in both counts and five witnesses have since testified.

When the matter came up for continued trial, Wednesday, Simwanza who is in charge of facilitating the movement of President Edgar Lungu, told the court that on May 3, this year, detective chief inspector Musanje from Lusaka Central Police visited his office to inquire as to whether he assigned the accused to organise fuel for the President motorcade, to which he refused.

“He came to find out from me as to whether at some point I assigned anybody by the name of Japhet Mwelwa to go and organise fuel for the Presidential motorcade, to which I refused,” he said.

In cross examination, Simwanza said he doesn’t send any person to get fuel for the Presidential motorcade.

And when he was further asked by Mwelwa’s lawyer Sunka Sambo if in his office, they had anything to do with logistics pertaining to the PF party, the witness said no.

Asked if he had any knowledge with regard the structure of PF, Simwanza responded in the affirmative.

“I know the structure of the party,” he said.

The matter comes up on June 26 for mention and July 4, for continued trial.

It is alleged that Mwelwa who claimed to have been a PF member, approached Mukuka and got K2,000 by using the name of the party and that of the leadership.

Mwelwa also approached the Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company where he attempted to get K2,000 by using the name of the President but the company was suspicious and investigated the same and established that he was actually lying.