PHD Ministries founder Walter Magaya, who is facing rape and fraud charges, will spend more time in detention after Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa yesterday dismissed an application for his release.
Magaya was arrested on Saturday, together with his wife, Tendai, who was granted US $500 bail under strict conditions.
The couple — along with their companies Planet Africa (Pvt) Ltd and Yadah Connect (Pvt) Ltd — face fraud charges linked to a multi-million-dollar housing project that allegedly never materialised.
Magaya is also charged with rape, a Third Schedule offence, and was advised to apply for bail at the High Court. He is expected back in court on November 18.
In her ruling, magistrate Gofa said the State had failed to justify denying bail to Tendai Magaya, describing her as not a flight risk and that the State’s allegations “are too weak to deny her bail.”
“The fact that the accused is facing a serious offence does not bar the court from granting her bail,” Gofa ruled.
In addition to paying US $500, Tendai Magaya was ordered to surrender her passport, report once a fortnight at her nearest police station, and not interfere with witnesses.
Related Stories
According to the State, the Magayas — acting as directors of Planet Africa and Yadah Connect — connived in 2016 to defraud PHD Ministries congregants and homeseekers by misrepresenting that they had acquired land for residential development in Chishawasha, Norton, Westgate, Fern Valley (Mutare), Bulawayo, Kwekwe, Arcturus, Ruwa, Manyame, and Nyatsime.
During a church service, Magaya allegedly told members that God had instructed him to help them build houses, urging them to buy the land through Planet Africa. Pamphlets were distributed showing images of the purported stands.
The couple also allegedly promoted mining, farming, and beekeeping projects, claiming these would help raise funds for construction. Congregants paid various sums at the church offices, and memoranda of understanding were signed stating Planet Africa had been allocated land by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
In 2017, the Magayas allegedly approached former Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono seeking to lease New Donnington Farm in Norton and later transported congregants there, claiming ownership.
The State says PHD Ministries received US $1 600 and R 5 000, Planet Africa US $27 300, and Yadah Connect US $21 340, R 190 000 and ZWL 1 000 — and that nothing was recovered.
Magaya was advised to seek bail on the rape charge from the High Court.
Leave Comments