Prophetic Healing and Deliverance leader Walter Magaya appeared in court on Monday to face four counts of rape, shortly after a dramatic arrest. Magaya was brought before Harare magistrate Fadzai Mtombeni, where the matter was remanded to February 16 for a trial scheduled to run continuously until February 19, 2026.
The State alleges that in June 2020, Magaya offered a 24-year-old woman a position as a voluntary ministerial worker at the PHD call center. She accepted the offer and subsequently moved into a church-owned hotel. According to the court, on July 26, 2020, Magaya invited the complainant to a hotel room, Villa 13, for a Bible study session via a WhatsApp message. Upon arrival, she found Magaya and another female staff member watching a movie. The female staff member then left the room, reportedly locking Magaya and the complainant inside.
It is alleged that Magaya then grabbed the complainant, dragged her into the bedroom, overpowered her, and had unprotected sexual intercourse with her without her consent. The complainant reported the incident to her stepfather the following day, July 27, 2020. She later came forward to the police after hearing about Magaya’s arrest for similar charges.
The trial, set to begin in February 2026, will examine the allegations against Magaya, who has been accused of multiple counts of rape. The case has sparked attention due to the prominent position of the accused within the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance organization. As the trial approaches, the court will hear evidence and testimony related to the allegations, with the outcome potentially having significant implications for the accused and the organization he leads. The continuous trial schedule indicates the complexity and seriousness of the case, underscoring the need for a thorough examination of the evidence presented.
