Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries founder and leader, Walter Magaya, 32, spent Friday night in police cells at Rhodesville Police Station after being arrested by the Law and Order section and was taken to court on Saturday for allegedly raping a congregant.

Nehanda Radio is in possession of court records relating to the rape charge in which prosecution alleges that Magaya raped a 25-year-old Midlands State University (MSU) student sometime in June 2015.

According to the police allegations annexure, the complainant (name withheld) resides in Unit G, Seke, Chitungwiza and is studying for a master’s degree in marketing.

The police request for remand form indicates that Magaya was charged under Section 65 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 and was arrested at 11pm on Friday on CR Harare Central 968/08/16.

Magaya, who was ordered to surrender his passport and granted $1,000 bail, was remanded to 15 September and is supposed to report to the police every Friday between 8am and 6pm while residing at his given address, allegedly invited the complainant to House Number 22, Colt Road in Mount Pleasant.

He reportedly showed her around the premises and then left her in a room before re-appearing naked and allegedly forced her to have sex with him once without using a condom.

“Soon after the offence, accused gave $200 to the complainant. Sometime on an unknown date but during the month of July 2015, the complainant reported the case to (her lover, named supplied),” reads the annexure.

Prosecution did not oppose bail and three witnesses are expected to testify.

Magaya has no known previous convictions or pending criminal cases.

There are no audio recordings of the alleged rape.

Magaya was represented by Mr Everson Chatambudza of Rubaya and Chatambudza Legal Practioneers, assisted by Mr Oliver Marawa. Mr Gwinyiya Shumba prosecuted.

Magaya arrived at the court uncuffed in a double-cab vehicle and escorted by two police detectives. He chuckled as photojournalists captured him entering the building where some of his congregants knelt and greeted him as he walked into Court 6.

Sporting a blue shirt, black trousers and black shoes, Magaya appeared relaxed and occasionally chatted with a Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services officer as his wife sat in the gallery.

He showed no reaction throughout the proceedings and walked outside after being granted bail to the sight of some PHD congregants kneeling followers singing the popular chorus “Mhururu Kumatenga”.

Magaya laid hands on them before being whisked away in an orange Ford Ranger truck.

Magaya enjoys a huge following at the PhD church in Waterfalls in the capital as congregants seek spiritual deliverance. He is also popular in several southern African countries, especially Botswana and South Africa.

The prophet has been dogged by allegations of rape and adultery that have sucked his Nigerian spiritual father, TB Joshua who is alleged to have protected him. Nehanda Radio