Magaya walks on hot ash…as sexual abuse allegations resurface

Magaya walks on hot ash…as sexual abuse allegations resurface

Hosia Mviringi

The Zimbabwe Gender Commission has officially invited all citizens who may have experienced any form of sexual abuse at the hands of prominent Harare Preacher and Prophet Walter Magaya over the years.

The plea by the gender watchdog follows a successful court application at the High Court which paved the way for the Commission to resuscitate its stalled investigations into the conduct of the man of the cloth in relation to allegations of sexual misconduct.

“The investigation which was gazetted on the 23rd of August 2019 (General notice No. 1444 (2019) was halted by the legal challenge launched by the key respondent, Mr Walter Magaya (Prophet Magaya). We are happy that the courts have given legal judgments (SC592/19, HC734/19 and HH688/19 which paved the way for the continuance of our processed,” the Commission said in a statement.

As such we are calling on all citizens who might have complaints of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) involving the conduct of Walter Magaya to present particulars of their complaints to the Zimbabwe Gender Commission,” added the Commission in a statement.

The invitation which is also being extended to all such personalities, both men and women, from within and without the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) denomination will not leave anyone behind as some of the victims may not necessarily be members of the denomination.

The Church which is famed for drawing large crowds from across the globe on such events and festivities as the end of year Crossover Nights, also enjoys patronage from the sick and spiritually afflicted perons who visits for spiritual help.

A very concerning trend has pervaded the Zimbabwean religious fabric as a number of complaints have been raised against some prophets and pastors who get carried away and end up sexually abusing their vulnerable ‘flock’.

“The Zimbabwe Gender Commission wishes to advice members of the public that the Commission, at its meeting number 38 on the 4th of August 2022 resolved to recommence investigations of the allegations of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) of women levelled against Prophet Walter Magaya of Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries,” the ZGC said.

Prophet Magaya is one of the richest preachers in the country having built a sprawling empire that stretches from agriculture, mining, black granite polishing, a soccer stadium which is the home of his own Premier League soccer side Yadah FC, a hotel from where multitudes from across the world take paid lodging during conferences and counselling sessions and also while awaiting their turn for a ‘one on one’ appointment with the ‘man of God’.

It is alleged that it’s during the ‘one on one’ encounters with the prophet that most of the abuse, most of which go unreported, happen.

Regrettably, unconfirmed reports allege victimization and threats as reasons why most cases remain under the cover of secrecy.

This necessitated the call by the concerned Gender Commission for all such victims to come forward and lodge formal complaints in a safe and friendly environment.