Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. PHD Ministries founder Walter Magaya has accused the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) of conducting a “trial through social media” through prejudicial Press statements in a case in which he faces multiple fraud and rape charges.
The self-styled prophet is being charged with fraud alongside his wife, Tendai, and their companies, Planet Africa and Yadah Connect.
He is separately facing rape charges.
He appeared before Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa yesterday and was remanded out of custody.
Magaya’s lawyer, Admire Rubaya, strongly objected to a recent police statement alleging that Magaya’s loyalists had mobilised a US$200 000 fund to bribe court officials including judges.
They must investigate in a manner that is not prejudicial to the accused persons,” Rubaya said.
“They issue statements in the media as if the court is being done on social media.
“The accused has been investigated since 2022 and postponing the matter now is prejudicial.
“The police allegedly said there is a fund of US$200 000 but instead of arresting they tend to post statements on social media.”
He argued that the police should focus on building a case for court rather than “playing to the gallery”.
“Court proceedings are there to serve the administration of justice, not to be played out on social media.”
On Saturday, ZRP issued a statement claiming a team led by one Albertina Saikonda was coordinating fundraising efforts from South Africa to interfere with court proceedings.
The State, represented by prosecutor Clemence Chimbari, requested a postponement until December 9, citing outstanding witness statements.
While Rubaya consented to the date, he warned that the defence will push for a trial date or seek to have the accused removed from remand.
“This asserts that they arrested the accused person without investigating,” he said.
“They must investigate in a manner that is not prejudicial to the accused persons.”
The fraud charges against the Magayas and their companies stem from an scheme alleged to have begun in 2016.
According to the State, the couple defrauded PHD Ministries congregants and other home-seekers by falsely claiming to have acquired land for housing projects in areas including Chishawasha, Norton, Westgate and Mutare.
The court heard that Magaya used a church service to announce that “God had instructed him” to help members to build houses, telling them to purchase the land from Planet Africa.
The couple allegedly distributed pamphlets with pictures of the “non-existent” land and advertised supplementary mining, farming and beekeeping projects.
They further misrepresented by signing memoranda of understanding which falsely stated that Planet Africa had been allocated land by the Local Government and Public Works ministry.
In 2017, in an effort to maintain the deception, the Magayas allegedly transported congregants to New Donnington Farm in Norton, pretending it as theirs.
The farm, however, was later discovered to belong to former central bank governor Gideon Gono from whom Magaya had secured a short-term lease.
The State alleges that through that scheme, PHD Ministries received US$1 600 and R5 000; Planet Africa received US$27 300 and Yadah Connect received US$21 340, R190 000 and ZWD$1 000. Nothing was recovered.
The case was postponed to December 9.
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