SPECIAL Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Isaac Chipampe has testified in the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court that a police officer from Kabwata Police Station informed him that someone had been pretending to be him.

Chipampe was testifying in a matter in which, Christopher Kikombe, 27, of Kafue estate is charged with five counts of forgery, uttering false documents and personating public officers.

In count one, Kikombe is charged with forgery.

It is alleged that Kikombe on April 14, 2020, in Lusaka with intent to deceive, forged a contract of employment showing that that Benny Mwampatisha was offered a job in the Ministry of National Development and Planning when in fact not.

In count two, Kikombe is charged with uttering false documents contrary to the laws of Zambia.

It is alleged that the accused person, between April 14 and 23, 2020 in Lusaka, knowingly and fraudulently uttered a false document namely a contract of employment to Benny Mwampatisha.

In count three, four and five, the accused is charged with personating public officers contrary to the laws of Zambia.

It is alleged that Kikombe between July 1 and 31, 2020 in Lusaka, falsely represented himself to be Isaac Chipampe, the Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, a public officer in government to detective inspector Mwila.

In count four, it is alleged that Kikombe between July 31, 2020 and August 5, 2020 in Lusaka falsely represented himself to be Chipampe to detective inspector Chongo.

In the last count it is alleged that Kikombe between August 1 and 31, 2020 in Lusaka falsely represented himself to be Chipampe to Kelvin Simukanze.

He had pleaded not guilty in September this year.

When the matter came up for continued trial before magistrate Alice Walusiku, Wednesday, Chipampe testified that a Sergeant Siame at Kabwata Police Station informed him via a phone call that someone had been calling from State House saying his name was Isaac Chipampe, a Special Assistant to the President and that he had been asking him (Siame) to stop the investigation of somebody.

He said Inspector Siame told him that maybe the best thing to do was to call the said man who had been calling (and pretending to be Chipampe) and put him on a conference call, of which he agreed.

“I heard Sergeant Siame speaking to someone on conference call and he addressed him as Mr Chipampe. In their conversation, I remember Sergeant Siame asking the said gentleman if they could meet at 11:00 hours to which he agreed. At that point the conversation ended,” Chipampe said.

In cross examination, the accused person who is representing himself said he had no questions.

Another witness, Lewis Mwila, 52, a Detective Chief Inspector based at Kabwata Police Station testified that he received a call from a person who introduced himself as Isaac Chipampe from State House.

He said the same person told him that he was aware about a case that Siame was investigating and he had developed interest in the matter.

Mwila said the said person told him that he had asked Siame to ask the suspect Christopher Kikombe about the gadget he had which manipulates numbers when you go for elections.

He said he then called Siame and explained to him (after the call).

Mwila said at a later stage, it was discovered that it was the same Christopher Kikombe who was posing as Isaac Chipampe.

“We picked Christopher Kikombe and questioned him further, that’s how he opened up. He came to tell us that he was the one who was posing as Isaac Chipampe,” said Mwila.

The witness identified the accused person as the one who was posing as Isaac Chipampe.

In cross examination, the accused person said he had no questions.

The matter comes up on January 11, 2021 for mention and fixing of trial dates.