Prophet Walter Magaya, the founder of Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries, will have to wait longer before clearing his name after the Harare Magistrates Court postponed his fraud case to 9 December. The high-profile matter—which also implicates his wife, Tendai Magaya—was pushed forward due to what the State described as incomplete investigations in a financial scandal that continues to widen.
The postponement was confirmed during routine remand proceedings before Magistrate Mrs. Gofa Marehwanazvo. According to the State prosecutor, investigators still need to obtain several crucial witness statements before they can proceed. The prosecution stressed that the outstanding evidence is essential to building a complete picture of what they have called a “complex financial arrangement involving multiple parties and substantial losses.”
Magaya and his wife, both out on bail, appeared calm in court as their defence team agreed to the postponement—though not without conditions. Their lawyer made it clear that while they were consenting, they expected tangible movement in the coming weeks.
“We have agreed to the postponement,” he told the court, “but we have placed the State on notice. When we return on the 9th of December, we expect to receive a definite trial date. This matter cannot drag on indefinitely.”
Magaya Fraud Case Postponed to December as Investigations Deepen
Central to the case are the couple’s two companies—Planet Africa Private Limited and Yadah Connect Private Limited. These entities are accused of coordinating a failed land development scheme that allegedly left thirteen people out of pocket. According to court documents, the complainants collectively lost US$49,240 (about R900,000) and an additional R195,000 in direct South African cash payments.
The losses stem from what investors believed was a legitimate opportunity to purchase stands through the companies, only for the deal to collapse under unclear circumstances. Prophet Magaya now faces 78 separate counts of fraud linked to this scheme alone—a figure highlighting the scale and severity of the accusations.
A source familiar with the investigations described the emotional toll on the victims:
“These are individuals who trusted the process and invested their life savings. Many believed they were securing land for their families’ future. For them, nearly US$50,000 and the additional R195,000 is not just money—it represents hope lost, plans shattered, and dreams deferred.”
Though Magaya’s legal team has consistently maintained his innocence, insisting the matter was a commercial dispute rather than a criminal one, the sheer number of complainants and the sums involved have intensified public scrutiny.
Adding to the prophet’s legal woes are unrelated but deeply serious allegations that continue to unsettle both his congregation and the broader public. In a separate matter, Magaya is facing five counts of rape, charges that have dramatically compounded the pressure surrounding him and his ministry.
The rape allegations, though independent of the fraud case, have fuelled a sense of crisis around the PHD Ministries founder. For many of his followers—both in Zimbabwe and abroad—these accusations stand in stark contrast to the spiritual leadership he is known for, and they have left the church struggling to manage its public image.
A regular attendee at the court proceedings noted the emotional weight that hangs over each appearance:
“It’s overwhelming. This is someone millions trust for spiritual guidance and healing. To see him battle fraud charges on one side and rape allegations on the other is a lot for people to take in. Everyone is waiting for the truth to come out, wherever it may lead.”
As the Magayas left the courthouse this week, observers noted the tense atmosphere that continues to accompany the couple’s legal battles. Supporters lingered outside, some offering prayers, while critics looked on with scepticism. The courtroom drama, amplified by the public profile of the accused, has made the case one of the most closely watched legal proceedings of the year.
With the next court date set for 9 December, both supporters and detractors are bracing for developments. Whether investigators will have concluded their work by then—and whether the court will finally set a firm trial date—remains to be seen.
For now, the prophet’s future hangs in the balance, with Zimbabwean eyes fixed firmly on the unfolding legal saga that has the potential to reshape the legacy of one of the country’s most controversial religious figures.
Source- iHarare
