Leader and founder of PHD Ministries, Walter Magaya, was arraigned before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on January 26, facing four counts of rape.
The charges span incidents alleged to have occurred between 2016 and 2023, involving four different complainants who were either congregants or employees linked to the accused person’s institutions.
Count 1 (2020)
A 24-year-old ministerial worker alleges she was invited to a hotel room under the pretext of Bible study, locked inside, and raped.
Count 2 (2023)
A 22-year-old woman claims she was instructed to stay at Yadah Hotel for prayers to stop spiritual manifestations, during which she was allegedly raped in the Presidential Suite.
Count 3 (2016)
A 32-year-old woman alleges the accused person offered her employment in a housing project, drove her to a Borrowdale house and raped her.
Count 4 (Date not specified)
A 21-year-old shop attendant alleges she was invited to a hotel as a reward for selling the accused person’s books, where she was allegedly locked in a room and forced into sexual intercourse.
The State opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the charges, risk of abscondment due to potential lengthy sentencing and concerns over witness interference.
The accused person is scheduled to appear at Harare Magistrates’ Court for trial beginning Monday February,16, 2026, with proceedings set to run continuously until Thursday February , 19.
On Wednesday January,28, 2026, the accused person’s lawyers filed a High Court bail application, with the bail hearing scheduled for Thursday January,29, 2026.
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