Prophet Magaya followers, business in disarray

For a moment inside the packed Harare Magistrates Court, Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries founder Walter Magaya turned his gaze toward Magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa, then to the prosecutors - his expression distant, almost biblical, as if echoing the words, "Forgive them, Lord, for they know not what they are doing."

Clad in a crisp blue suit, Magaya briefly locked eyes with his wife, Tendai, whose quiet composure belied the weight of public humiliation she now faces beside her husband. The courtroom, heavy with whispers and murmurs, felt more like a sanctuary than a court - filled with Magaya's devoted congregants, who watched in disbelief as the man they called "Papa" stood accused of serious crimes.

To them, it was not Magaya on trial - it was their faith.

Outside the courthouse, emotions ran high. Followers prayed, wept, and denounced the State for what they described as a "diabolical attack on God's anointed." Some cried out, "Mweya yetsvina iyi!" - "These are evil spirits!" - insisting his arrest was spiritual warfare, not justice.

Yet, inside, the charges were grim.

Magaya and his wife face multiple counts of fraud and are under investigation for rape after several congregants reported abuses to the Zimbabwe Gender Commission. The State alleges that Magaya defrauded church members and home seekers of thousands of dollars through false promises of land, housing, and investment opportunities in mining and beekeeping ventures.

Prosecutors say the self-styled prophet claimed to have secured land in areas including Chishawasha, Norton, Westgate, Fern Valley (Mutare), Bulawayo, Kwekwe, Arcturus, Ruwa, Manyame, and Nyatsime - promising followers houses and high returns on investments.

During a 2016 church service broadcast live on television, Magaya allegedly told congregants that "God had instructed him to give them land," citing Genesis 13:9 - "A vast land is out there and available to you." Thousands reportedly paid deposits in faith.

But, according to court documents, the land did not belong to Magaya. Instead, it was part of Dr. Gideon Gono's New Donnington Farm, which Magaya had only leased for one season. Congregants were taken there under the illusion that it was his property.

"Nothing was recovered from the money paid by home seekers," prosecutors told the court.

His arrest came dramatically early Saturday morning, when a police crack team stormed his Prospect residence. Tension escalated when his aide, a soldier named Tapiwa Chikondo, resisted arrest and knocked a detective to the ground before being subdued. Both men were later handcuffed together and brought to court - a scene some likened to the Garden of Gethsemane, when Christ was seized and Peter drew a sword to defend him.

Inside Court 14, Magaya's lawyer Admire Rubaya argued that his clients had been over-detained beyond the 48-hour limit, and therefore should be released immediately. Magistrate Gofa acknowledged the violation but ruled that it did not warrant immediate release, advising the defence to seek redress through the Constitutional Court.

The State requested that portions of the trial, especially those relating to rape allegations, be heard in camera, citing sensitivity and the protection of witnesses.

Outside, some of Magaya's supporters cursed journalists for taking photos of their spiritual leader. "Mutorei ma pictures acho kaa, muchanotsva kugehena!" shouted one - "Take your pictures, but you will rot in hell!"

Despite the controversy, Magaya's church announced that its planned "Night of Turn Around" service will proceed as scheduled this weekend - though it remains unclear who will lead it in his absence.

From his prison cell, Magaya sent a defiant message to his flock:

"The trial I am facing is for the benefit of my spirit, sanctification, and uplift. I am carrying a big cross right now which is necessary for growth."

As the prophet faces his toughest test yet, many wonder what will become of his vast network of businesses - including Yadah FC, mining operations, and real estate ventures - all intertwined with his once-thriving ministry.

For now, one thing is clear: the man who once promised his followers "a vast land of blessings" stands on uncertain ground - between the loyalty of his believers and the weight of the law.