Chaos erupts at Prophet Magaya’s arrest

Chaos erupted at Prophet Walter Magaya’s prayer mountain in Prospect, Waterfalls, on November 1st, as police officers moved in to arrest the high-profile church leader. The arrest, which officers stated was for reported cases of both Rape and Fraud, was met with resistance, leading to a separate charge of obstruction against a soldier at the scene.

While the dramatic confrontation at the prayer mountain gate unfolds, it is the stunning details within the 13-count fraud case that have captured public attention. Court documents allege a multi-year, sophisticated plan of deception targeting church congregants and the public, with Prophet Magaya, his wife Tendai, and their companies at the center.

The “Divine” Plan: A Promise of Land

The state’s case, outlined in police annexures, alleges that the plan was “hatched” in 2016. Prophet Walter Magaya (42), as founder of the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries, allegedly used his platform to launch the scheme.

During a church service, broadcast live on Yadah Television, the Prophet reportedly announced that “God had instructed him” to assist members in building houses on “vast land” he claimed to have acquired.

To bolster this claim, pamphlets were allegedly produced and distributed, showing pictures of purported land and future houses. The pamphlets were inscribed with Genesis 13:9: “A vast land is out there and available to you.”

The alleged misrepresentation was sweeping, listing land in Chishawasha, Norton, Westgate, Mutare, Bulawayo, and several other locations.

A Corporate Web for Payments

According to the allegations, a corporate structure was presented to the congregants.

Planet Africa Private Limited (Accused 3) was to administer the sale of the stands.

Yadah Connect Private Limited (Accused 4) was to build the houses.

Prophet Magaya and his wife, Tendai Magaya (41), are listed as Directors for both registered companies.

The scheme allegedly expanded, encouraging members to “invest” in mining, farming, and beekeeping projects, promising a remarkable “50% interest” after just six months.

As a result, 13 complainants listed in the court papers paid significant sums to the organisations. Documents detail receipts by the accused companies totaling US$48,640 and ZAR 195,000, among other amounts.

The state notes, “nothing was recovered.”

The Gono Farm: A “Show of Hope”

Perhaps the most startling allegation in the state’s case occurred in 2017, as investors allegedly grew restless.

To “keep the defrauded complainants with hope,” court papers allege Prophet Magaya and his wife “acting in connivance” approached Dr. Gideon Gono. They sought a farming contract at Dr. Gono’s New Donnington Farms. Documents state Mrs. Magaya was “in the forefront negotiating” this one-season farming deal.

The state alleges what happened next was a calculated act of misdirection.

Prophet Magaya, “well knowing that he had not acquired any land” there, allegedly “gathered church congregants who had paid for the stands… ferried them to the New Donnington Farms… and misrepresented that he was the owner of the farm and the site was ready for allocation of residential stands.”

The report makes a crucial note: “When the announcement was made accused (2) [Tendai Magaya] was present and did not disclose to those who were being shown the land that the land belonged to Dr. Gideon Gono.”

The Case Unravels

The alleged deception collapsed when complainants “picked information that the farm they were shown belongs to Dr. Gideon Gono and was not on sale.” They subsequently filed a report with the Police.

The case against Prophet Walter Magaya, Tendai Magaya, Planet Africa (Pvt) Ltd, and Yadah Connect (Pvt) Ltd now proceeds on 13 counts of Fraud.

Separately, the soldier involved in the November 1st arrest, identified as Corporal Tapiwa Felix Chikondo (34), faces charges of Defeating or Obstructing the Course of Justice after he allegedly blocked the police vehicle and “charged towards Detective Assistant Inspector Chifamba and pushed him to the ground.” – Zimbo LIVE Harare