A dramatic new twist has entered the courtroom in the rape trial involving Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries founder Walter Magaya, after his lawyers filed an urgent application seeking the recusal of a senior prosecutor on grounds of alleged church rivalry.
“Our client instructs, and has it on good authority, that Ms Tendayi Shonhayi is a member of a rival church known as United Family International Church,” Magaya’s lawyers, Rubaya and Chatambudza, wrote, adding that their client considers UFIC to be in direct rivalry with his ministry.
In a letter dated 17 February 2026 and addressed to the National Prosecuting Authority, Magaya’s legal representatives argue that Chief Director Tendayi Shonhayi should step aside from handling the matter.
This development follows an earlier attempt by the defence to compel that the matter be heard in a fully public setting, a bid which did not succeed.
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The recusal application is the latest in a series of procedural challenges mounted by the defence since Magaya’s arrest.
Recently, his legal team sought to compel that the matter be conducted in a fully public setting, an application that was dismissed by the court.
In an earlier complaint, Magaya's lawyer, Admire Rubaya, also raised concerns over the circumstances of Magaya’s arrest, stating that he had been on a month-long fasting and prayer retreat at the time, which they described as a spiritual sojourn dedicated to intercession to pray for everyone.
One of Magaya’s security personnel was subsequently charged after allegedly attempting to prevent law enforcement officers from effecting the arrest.
Previously, Magaya successfully obtained a court interdict temporarily halting investigations into separate allegations of a sexual nature. At the time, his legal team argued that the investigations were unlawful and infringed on his rights. The order was later set aside, allowing authorities to resume investigations.
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