ZACC goes after Prophet Magaya over fake UNISA qualifications

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has launched a fraud investigation into prominent cleric Walter Magaya after the University of South Africa (UNISA) confirmed that the diploma he presented to the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) and the High Court was fake.

Magaya, who was disqualified from contesting the ZIFA presidency due to a lack of the required five Ordinary Level passes, had submitted a photocopied and certified diploma in marketing, claiming he attained it at UNISA. He challenged his disqualification, asserting that he was "overqualified" for the role. However, UNISA's investigation revealed that Magaya never graduated from the institution and had no record of receiving an honorary doctorate, a claim he has made repeatedly over the years.

In a strongly worded statement, UNISA discredited Magaya's claims.
"The university has never conferred any honorary doctorate on Mr. Magaya and strongly condemns this false claim. We believe that conduct of this nature damages and brings our brand into disrepute, and we reserve the right to take appropriate corrective action. Relevant authorities within the university have therefore been requested to take the necessary legal action in this regard," the statement read.

The photocopied diploma was certified and stamped as a true copy of the original by the Officer in Charge at Waterfalls Police Station in Harare, raising further concerns about the authenticity of the document and the processes surrounding its certification.

ZACC has since written to ZIFA, requesting all documents Magaya submitted during his application for the ZIFA presidency. Additionally, the anti-corruption body has reached out to the Judicial Services Commission to obtain a record of the proceedings from Magaya's High Court application challenging ZIFA's decision.

"These documents are to facilitate our investigations in a case of fraud," ZACC stated in correspondence seen by NewZimbabwe.com.

Magaya's disqualification and subsequent allegations have sparked outrage in football circles, with many calling for greater scrutiny of candidates vying for leadership roles in national organizations. ZACC's investigation is expected to uncover the extent of the alleged fraud and whether other parties were complicit in the certification of the forged document.

The controversy adds another layer to Magaya's already contentious public image, raising questions about his qualifications and conduct in both the religious and public domains.