PHD Leader Prophet Walter Magaya is Facing 78 Fraud Charges, 5 Rape Counts
HARARE – Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries founder Prophet Walter Magaya is facing 78 counts of fraud and five counts of rape, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed in a news bulletin.
According to the NPA, the High Court sitting in Harare granted Magaya US$3 000 bail on Monday, with conditions that he surrenders his passport, resides at a specified address, and does not interfere with witnesses.
Despite the ruling, Magaya remained in custody as of Tuesday, amid reports that police intended to re-arrest him over fresh allegations.
Justice Gibson Mandaza approved Magaya’s bail application after Harare regional magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa had earlier denied him release. However, his bail papers were yet to be signed, with his legal team expected to return to court to finalise the process.
State prosecutors allege that Magaya defrauded members of his church by misrepresenting that he had stands for sale across Zimbabwe and that he ran profitable business ventures offering a 50% return within six months.
Complainants reportedly lost various amounts of money as a result.
The prosecution further alleges that Magaya raped two women on five separate occasions between 2018 and 2023. He is accused of luring the complainants to hotel rooms where he allegedly engaged in sexual acts without their consent.
One of the complainants reportedly conceived a child as a result of the alleged assaults.
Authorities also claim that Magaya attempted to conceal the offences by promising compensation and coercing the complainants into recording videos denying they had been raped.
“The accused person allegedly lured the complainants to hotel rooms where he would have sexual intercourse with them, without their consent. He allegedly has a child with the first complainant as a result of rape.
“The accused person tried to cover his tracks by promising compensation to the complainants and coercing them to record videos claiming that they were not raped,” the NPA stated. *nehandaradio*
