Prophet Magaya allegedly fathered child with rape victim

Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries founder Walter Magaya is alleged to have fathered a child with one of his rape victims, according to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

The charismatic preacher, who is also a businessman, is currently facing 78 counts of fraud and five counts of rape. The NPA told the court that one of the alleged sexual assaults resulted in the birth of a child.

Prosecutors further claim that Magaya attempted to conceal the alleged offences by offering compensation to the victims and coercing them to record video statements asserting that they had not been raped.

"It is the State's case that the accused person collected various amounts of money from his congregants after misrepresenting that he had stands for sale in different places across Zimbabwe," the NPA said.

"He also misrepresented that he had various business ventures for congregants to invest in, purporting that they would get a 50% return in six months. As a result, the complainants lost various amounts of money."

According to the prosecution, Magaya allegedly raped two women on five separate occasions between 2018 and 2023. The incidents reportedly took place in hotel rooms, where the victims were allegedly lured under false pretences.

"The accused person allegedly lured the complainants to hotel rooms where he would have sexual intercourse with them without their consent," the NPA said.

On Tuesday, 11 November, the Harare High Court granted Magaya US$3,000 bail, with strict conditions requiring him to surrender his passport, reside at his given address, and refrain from contacting witnesses.

Magaya's legal woes stem from a combination of fraudulent housing schemes and sexual assault allegations, both of which have rocked his church and followers. If convicted, he faces lengthy imprisonment and the collapse of his once-thriving ministry.

The controversial clergyman is expected to appear in court again on November 18 for routine remand.