Magaya out on US$3000 bail as rape trial set for February

Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries founder, Walter Magaya, has been granted a $3000 bail by High Court judge Vivian Ndlovu.

Prophet Magaya was in remand prison facing four fresh rape charges and he has granted bail after spending the whole week in prison.

According to NPAZ, the first count relates to an incident alleged to have occurred in 2020. A 24-year-old ministerial worker claims she was invited to a hotel room under the guise of Bible study, where she was allegedly locked inside and raped.

The second count, dating back to 2023, involves a 22-year-old woman who alleges she was instructed to stay at Yadah Hotel for prayers meant to stop spiritual manifestations. She claims the alleged rape occurred in the hotel’s Presidential Suite.

A third allegation is said to have taken place in 2016. A 32-year-old woman alleges Magaya offered her employment in a housing project before driving her to a house in Borrowdale, where she claims she was raped.

The fourth count involves a 21-year-old shop attendant. She alleges she was invited to a hotel as a reward for selling Magaya’s books and was allegedly locked in a room and forced into sexual intercourse. The exact date of this incident was not specified in court documents.

The bail ruling, handed down today by Justice Vivian Ndlovu, includes several stringent conditions.

Magaya has been granted bail on the conditions that he should report to the police twice a week, surrender his passport to the clerk of the court, surrender title deeds to his Mt Pleasant house and reside at his given address.

According to the State, Magaya’s trial is set to commence on February 16 and will run until February 19 at the Harare Magistrates’ Court on a continuous roll.

The prosecution team is led by Mr Clemence Chimbari, Ms Tendai Shonhayi and Ms Chipo Muronda.

Lawyers who are representing Magaya are, Messrs Admire Rubaya and Everson Chatambudza.

Magaya was arrested on January 26 and initially appeared before Harare Regional Magistrate, Mrs Fadzai Mthombeni.