Thursday 29 January 2026
Zim GBC News | Crimes and Courts
HARARE – Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries founder, Walter Magaya, is set to face trial on multiple serious charges, including four counts of rape, with the case scheduled to commence on 16 February 2026 at the Harare High Court.
This forthcoming trial marks the latest chapter in a series of legal challenges spanning over a decade involving the high-profile church leader. The charges stem from allegations made in 2025, where Magaya was arrested by Harare police for alleged rape and fraud. These latest charges are separate from previous allegations.
A legal expert familiar with the proceedings noted,
“The State has proceeded with prosecution in several of these matters despite attempts by complainants to withdraw the cases. This suggests the authorities believe there is a substantive public interest and evidential basis to pursue the matters in court.”
Magaya’s legal history includes a 2013 adultery lawsuit, where he was sued for US$500,000. The case was later withdrawn by the complainant. Between 2016 and 2018, he faced initial rape charges brought by Zimbabwean authorities, which saw multiple attempts by the complainant to withdraw the case, though prosecutors continued to pursue charges.
In 2019, several women came forward with sexual abuse accusations against Magaya. Some of these accusations were later recanted. No separate court ruling confirming guilt or innocence from that period has been publicly confirmed.
“The pattern shows a complex legal history where allegations have been made, sometimes withdrawn or recanted, yet the judicial process has been invoked repeatedly by the state,” a Harare-based civil society observer commented.
The upcoming trial is highly anticipated, placing Magaya’s legal battles back in the national spotlight.
His legal team has previously maintained his innocence regarding all past allegations.
It is a fundamental legal principle that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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