Barely f i v e months after a Lusaka prophet was sent to jail for five years for swindling a widow out of K260,000, another clergyman is in court facing five charges of obtaining over K80,000 by false pretences. Sydney Mwandu, 36, a pastor of Mountain of the Lord’s House Church, is accused of swindling Tina Phiri, 37, out of K80,500. Mwandu got the money under the pretext that he had won a Government contract to build a road in Chingola and that he was looking for partners interested in implementing the project with him.

In the first count, it is alleged that between November 1 and 30, 2012, Mwandu obtained K15,000 from Ms Phiri by falsely pretending that he had a road contract and needed to partner with her, when in fact not. In the second count, it is alleged that between September 1 and 30, this year, Mwandu obtained K32,000 from Ms Phiri by falsely pretending that he bought a tipper truck for use in road construction and needed money to pay import duty to the Zambia Revenue Authority.

In the third count, it is alleged that between December 1 and 30, 2015, Mwandu obtained K30,000 from Ms Phiri by falsely pretending that he needed money to pay the owners of the tipper truck which he hired for use in construction works. In the fourth count, it is alleged that between October 1 and 30, 2017, Mwandu obtained K3,500 from Ms Phiri by falsely pretending that he needed money to buy spare parts for the tipper truck.

And in the fifth count, it is alleged that on August 2, last year, Mwandu incurred a debt amounting to K5,500 from Ms Phiri by falsely pretending that he was going to pay back. When the matter came up for plea before magistrate Alice Walusiku on Wednesday, Mwandu denied all the charges. And testifying in the matter, Manasseh Kapalwe, who is the accused’s former assistant pastor, confirmed receiving instructions from Mwandu to get K12,000 from Ms Phiri.

He said after getting the money, he deposited it in the clearing agent’s bank account and Mwandu confirmed receipt. Mr Kapalwe further said Mwandu also got K30,000 from Ms Phiri, which he claimed he needed to pay workers. He said when Mwandu was apprehended at Central Police, he admitted obtaining K15,000, K5,000, and K12,000 from Ms Phiri and promised to pay back.

Mr Kapalawe also told the court that before Mwandu was arrested, he had a cordial relationship with him, and has nothing against the clergyman. The matter was adjourned to July 17, this year for continuation of trial. Meanwhile, an unrepentant 25-year-old man of Lusaka who was six years ago convicted of defilement has been convicted of defiling a seven-year-old Grade One pupil as she was going back home from school.

Jack Mukunta of Chalala has been committed to the High Court for sentencing where he risks being incarcerated for not less than 15 years, a minimum sentence. On November 14 last year, Mukunta had unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 16, an offence he denied committing. When the matter came up on Wednesday, Boston Mwankuwa, a court clerk, told magistrate Alice Walusiku that records indicate that Mukunta is a second offender who was in 2013 convicted of defilement and unnatural offences by principle resident magistrate Mwaka Mikalile. Mr Mwankuwa said Mukunta was later committed to the High Court for sentencing where a 15-year ja