Magaya followers, business in disarray

BY TANAKA FETINANDI

For a moment, Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries founder, Walter Magaya, gazed at Harare Magistrate, Marewanazvo Gofa, then the Prosecutors as if he was saying “forgive them Lord for they know not what they are doing.”

Clad in an immaculate blue suit on the first day he appeared in court, Magaya also cast his eyes on his wife, Tendai, in a way that made many feel he really hoped she was not facing the embarrassment she was going through.

The courtroom, as is his church in Waterfalls, was full of people of faith, his spiritual sons and daughters who also spoke in hushed tones disparaging the State they felt was pursuing a diabolic agenda against Magaya, their revered spiritual father.

To them, it was faith on trial and vowed that this too shall come to pass.

Magaya was arrested early Saturday morning by a police crack team and the arrest was not without drama.

The PHD Ministries founder had been in prayer for weeks and when the police team of over seven officers including detectives besieged his Prospect base, Magaya’s aide, Tapiwa Chikondo, a soldier, tried to fight them.

Chikondo knocked Detective Assistant Inspector Chifamba to the ground before he was restrained. This led to his arrest and subsequent appearance in court handcuffed together with his boss, Magaya.

To Christians, it was like the time Jesus Christ was taken in the Garden of Gethsemane amid tension that led to one of his disciples, Simon Peter, drawing a sword to cut off an ear of the high priest’s servant all in the name of protecting his master.

Magaya’s arrest, observers say, was imminent as several cases of him allegedly raping congregants were reported and investigated by the Zimbabwe Gender Commission.

He is also facing charges of fraud after duping several congregants and home-seekers of money he claimed was to facilitate residential stands and business partnerships in mining and beekeeping.

Magaya allegedly used the farm he was renting from former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor, Gideon Gono, to dupe unsuspecting land seekers mainly from his church claiming the land was his.

The State alleges that sometime in 2016, Magaya, acting in connivance with his wife and two others hatched 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 Mutare, Bulawayo, Kwekwe, Arcturus, Ruwa, Manyame and Nyatsime for building houses for church members and the general public for farming, beekeeping and mining projects.

Pursuant to the misrepresentation in 2016, the State alleges Magaya held a church service at his church where he preached to congregants in attendance and following on television misrepresenting on the land acquired.

“During his preaching, Magaya announced that God had instructed him that the purpose of giving him land was to assist members of the church and others to build houses,” the court papers read in part.

He used a biblical verse, Genesis 13 verse 9 which reads: “A vast land is out there and available to you” to dupe the land seekers.

Magaya allegedly promised 50% interest after six months to those who would invest in the mining and beekeeping projects.

“To keep the defrauded congregants with hope, in 2017, Magaya and his wife acting in connivance approached Dr Gono seeking farming contract at new Donnington Farms belonging to Dr Gono and he agreed to provide them with land for farming for one season only.”

Magaya allegedly took congregants to Gono’s farm where he misrepresented that he was the owner and ready to allocate residential stands.

Nothing was recovered from the money paid by the home seekers.

But while the court proceedings played out, it was the whispers and lamentations of Magaya’s followers that could not skip media attention.

Top of the drama when the Magayas appeared in court on Monday was the argument from his lawyers that their clients ought to be released after they were over detained outside the 48-hour period.

Gofa, however, ruled that although the pair had been over-detained, the violation did not warrant their release before advising them to seek redress through the Constitutional Court.

Magaya’s legal representative, Admire Rubaya, informed the court that they would not apply for bail at the Magistrates’ court but would instead approach the High Court.

The hearings drew large crowds of PHD Ministries congregants, many of whom referred to the Magayas as their “spiritual father and mother.” Court 14 was overwhelmed with followers, and police officers struggled to maintain order. Due to overcrowding, many supporters were forced to follow proceedings from outside the courtroom.

Journalists also faced similar restrictions and the State requested that parts of the hearing particularly those concerning the rape allegations, be held in camera (closed door hearings).

Outside, emotions ran high. Some congregants prayed and defiantly proclaimed Magaya’s innocence.

“Mweya yetsvina iyi (these are evil spirits)” insinuating his arrest was a spiritual warfare.

Another woman expressed unwavering support for Tendai, recalling how she had prayed for her to conceive.

Others were less forgiving and demanded justice saying they lost a lot due to the fraudulent acts.

Journalists were also cursed by Magaya’s followers for taking pictures of their spiritual father in distress.

“Mutorei ma pictures acho kaa, muchanotsva kugehena! (take those pictures but you will rot in jail.)”

This weekend, Magaya’s church has planned a “Night of Turn Around.”

It remains to be seen whether the event will go ahead as planned without the spiritual father.

Speaking from prison, Magaya had a message for his followers.

He said the legal challenges he is facing are necessary for the benefit of his spirit and his mission as a prophet.

“The trial I am facing is for the benefit of my spirit, sanctification, my uplift. I am carrying a big cross right now which is necessary for growth,” Magaya said.

While Magaya is in the dock, questions have been raised on what will become of his businesses that include mining interests, a football club, Yadah FC, which is playing in the elite league and several of his companies that he runs together with his wife. Only time will tell.