Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
PROPHETIC Healing and Deliverance Ministries founder, Prophet Walter Magaya, was yesterday denied bail on rape charges and was remanded in custody until November 13 by Harare regional magistrate, Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa.
He was advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
Magaya has also chosen not to seek bail in a separate fraud case, where he is jointly charged with his wife, Tendai Magaya, and their operations manager Tatenda Chinguwa.
The charges involve their companies, Plannet Africa Private Limited and Yadah Connect Private Limited, and allege the defrauding of 13 complainants of a combined total of US$49 240 and R195 000 in a land deal.
Prosecutors alleged that Magaya, acting in common purpose with his wife and Chinguwo, came up with a plan to defraud PHD ministries, congregants and other members of the public by misrepresenting that they had acquired land in Chishawasha, Norton, Westgate, Fern Valley in Mutare, Bulawayo, Kwekwe, Arcturus, Ruwa, Manyame and Nyatsime, for building houses, farming, beekeeping and mining projects.
Magaya is further alleged to have announced that the project of building houses was to be administered by Plannet Africa and Yadah Connect.
Interested members were supposed to buy the stands from Plannet Africa by paying monthly contributions.
Yadah Connect was to build the houses under the alleged deal.
Convinced, the 13 complainants Feddie Manyange, Martha Dongo, Rumbidzai Dukwara, Percy Makawonesu, Tambudzai Matara, Theresa Nyanhongo, Ollitah Katsvere, Jane Nyanhongo, Asmin Karongonda and Saul Matsamba paid US$49 000 and R195 000 to the two companies towards the stands.
Magaya and his accomplices further signed memoranda of understanding with the complainants who were of the belief that Plannet Africa had been allocated land by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works knowing very well that there was no such land that had been allocated.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, Tendai Magaya was granted bail, with the court finding no compelling reasons to deny her release.
Presiding magistrate, Mrs Gofa, said the gravity of the charges alone was insufficient to justify withholding bail.
“In this case, the court finds the explanations provided by the accused to be plausible. There are no compelling reasons submitted by the State to deny her bail. The accused is not a flight risk and she is of fixed abode.”
The court noted that Tendai had been under investigation since 2023 and had ample time to flee to countries such as the United Kingdom or South Africa if she intended to evade justice.
Her decision to remain in Zimbabwe was seen as evidence of her willingness to face the charges.
Additionally, the magistrate ruled that the State’s case against her was weak and that conditions could be imposed to address the prosecution’s concerns.
Tendai Magaya was granted US$500 bail and ordered to surrender her passport, report to ZRP Waterfalls Police Station every two weeks, reside at her given address and avoid interfering with witnesses.
Prophet Magaya, Tendai Magaya and their companies are expected to appear in court again on November 18 for the fraud case.
The State is represented by Mr Clemence Chimbare, while the accused are represented by Mr Admire Rubaya and Mr Everson Chatambudza.
Meanwhile, Magaya’s aide, Tapiwa Felix Chikondo, was also granted bail by Harare provincial magistrate, Mr Tapiwa Kuhudzai.
Chikondo faces charges of assaulting a police officer and obstructing the course of justice during Magaya’s arrest last Saturday at his prayer mountain.
Chikondo, represented by lawyers Mr Stephen Chikotora and Mr Malvern Mapako, was granted bail of US$300.
He was also ordered to surrender his passport, reside at his given address, and avoid interfering with witnesses.
His trial is scheduled for November 20.
Peter Tanyanyiwa