Bail for PHD Magaya Granted by High Court with Conditions

The High Court of Zimbabwe has approved bail for Walter Magaya, the founder and leader of the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) church, setting the amount at US$3,000. The bail decision follows Magaya’s arrest on charges of fraud, marking the latest legal development for the prominent religious figure.

As part of the bail conditions, Magaya must reside at his provided residential address and report to the nearest police station every Monday and Friday. Furthermore, he is required to surrender his passport to the clerk of court and hand over the title deeds for his property in Mount Pleasant, a suburb of Harare. These stringent measures are designed to ensure his availability for future court proceedings.

Magaya’s case has attracted significant public and media attention due to his influential status as a televangelist and the head of a large religious movement. This is not his first encounter with the Zimbabwean justice system; in 2019, he was arrested on similar fraud allegations after claiming to have discovered a “miracle cure” for HIV/AIDS. He was later acquitted on those charges. The current charges relate to separate allegations of deceptive practices, though specific details of the latest case have not been extensively detailed in court documents.

The granting of bail indicates the court’s assessment that Magaya is not a flight risk, given the surrendered passport and property deeds, and is unlikely to interfere with the investigation. The bi-weekly police reporting is a common condition to monitor compliance. The case proceeds to the next stage of the criminal trial process, where the prosecution will be required to present its evidence.

This situation underscores the ongoing legal scrutiny faced by high-profile religious leaders in Zimbabwe, where the boundaries between faith-based claims and consumer protection laws are periodically tested. The outcome of the trial will be closely watched by both supporters of the PHD church and legal observers concerned with issues of fraud and religious accountability. The next court appearance will set the timeline for the continuation of the proceedings.