Magaya Granted US$3,000 Bail Over Four Rape Charges

Walter Magaya, the founder and leader of Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries, has been granted US$3,000 bail by the High Court.

Magaya is facing new rape charges involving four alleged victims, adding to several other cases of rape, attempted rape and fraud that are already before the courts.

The ruling allows him to be released while awaiting trial, but under strict bail conditions, including handing over his passport, not interfering with witnesses, and reporting regularly to the police.

The allegations involve a 24-year-old woman from Harare, who, along with her family, attended Magaya’s PHD Ministries.

In June 2020, Magaya reportedly offered her a voluntary position at the church’s call centre, which led her to move into a hotel affiliated with the ministry.

On the evening of July 26, 2020, he allegedly invited her to a Bible study at Villa 13, a suite in the hotel. Upon her arrival, she found Magaya and a female hotel staff member watching a film.

It is alleged that the staff member later left, locking the complainant inside with Magaya. He is then said to have dragged her into the bedroom, forcibly removed her clothing, and raped her.

The next day, she informed her stepfather and subsequently reported the incident to the police after learning of Magaya’s recent arrest on similar charges.

In another case, the complainant is a 22-year-old woman from Chegutu. She alleges that in 2022, while attending a church service at PHD Ministries, she displayed spiritual manifestations and was referred to Magaya for prayer.

After the session, she was allegedly told to stay at Yadah Hotel for additional spiritual guidance. In 2023, Magaya is accused of inviting her to his presidential suite, where he forcibly undressed and raped her, resulting in her losing her virginity.

He reportedly threatened her life, warning her against reporting the incident and claiming that she could not challenge someone as wealthy as he is.

Following a period of prolonged bleeding, she eventually confided in her mother about what had happened.

The third complainant is a 32-year-old woman from Harare who alleges that, in 2016, while under Magaya’s spiritual mentorship, she was instructed to quit her job and was offered employment at his housing project.

During a meeting at a property in Borrowdale, Magaya allegedly gave her US$3,000 as an advance on her salary. He later reportedly called her into a room where he raped her, threatening her with death if she disclosed the assault.

The fourth complainant, a 21-year-old shop attendant from Chegutu, claims that between 2016 and 2023, she worked on the marketing team for Magaya’s book “Proceeding in Pain.” She was invited to Yadah Hotel as a reward, but initially declined.

After eventually accepting the invitation, she alleges that Magaya summoned her to his presidential suite, where he forced himself on her after two women locked her inside.