Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries founder Walter Magaya’s arrest yesterday came after years of fighting rape and fraud allegations by the prominent cleric.
Police spokesperson commissioner Paul Nyathi said Magaya (41) had been arrested by a crack team in the early hours on rape and fraud charges.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of church leader Walter Magaya in connection with several reports of rape and fraud,” Nyathi said.
“The suspect was arrested early today by a police crack team.”
The rape allegations have long stalked Magaya after several female members of his church alleged a history of abuse, but police had never acted.
In 2022, the Zimbabwe Gender Commission said it had opened investigations against Magaya and invited those who might have been victims to come forward.
“The investigation which was gazetted on the 23rd of August 2019(General Notice No.1444/2019) was halted by the Legal Challenge launched by the key respondent Mr Walter Magaya (Prophet Magaya),” the commission said at the time.
“We are happy that the courts have given legal judgements (SC592/19, HC 7347/19 and HH688/19) which have paved way for the continuance of our processes .
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“As such, we are calling on all citizens who might have complaints of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) involving the conduct of Walter Magaya to present particulars of their complaints to the Zimbabwe Gender Commission.
“The invitation is also being extended to all the complainants and witnesses to such acts, which consist SEA of Women within the denomination.”
The commission has not made its findings, public and it was not clear if the arrest was related to that probe.
Magaya has also been accused by former members of his church of fraud after they allegedly contributed to a housing scheme where he failed to deliver on the houses he had promised.
Prior to his arrest, Magaya had claimed to be fasting for 31 days at a prayer mountain. His church is organising what it has billed as the “Night of Turn Around” set for November 7.
According to some of the messages advertising the event, the cleric had been billed to appear for the first time in public after his stint at the prayer mountain.
“He is coming down full of glory. He is coming down with divine instruction and remarkable anointing,” reads a post on his Facebook page.
“We have seen power before, but on the Night of Turn Around, when the Prophet of God makes his first public appearance after thirty-one days of fasting and prayer, we shall experience power like never before.
“When Moses came down from Mt. Sinai, he was carrying the presence of God. He had been with God, and the evidence was visible for all to see.
