04/11/2025
Here is the full story: Prophet Walter Magaya and his wife Tendai have been remanded in prison until 13 November 2025. They were arrested at Magaya’s prayer mountain in Waterfalls on 1 November for r@pe and fraud charges. The arrest turned chaotic when a soldier tried to block the police, leading to an additional charge of obstructing justice.
The fraud case involves 13 counts, accusing Magaya, his wife, and their companies of cheating church members through a fake land and investment scheme. The accusations say the plan started in 2016, when Magaya announced during a live church service on Yadah Television that God had instructed him to help his followers build homes on “vast land” he said he had bought. To make this believable, pamphlets were printed showing pictures of land and houses with the Bible verse Genesis 13:9 “A vast land is out there and available to you.” The pamphlets claimed that land was available in Chishawasha, Norton, Westgate, Mutare, Bulawayo, and other places. Many followers believed him and started paying money to secure residential stands.
To make the operation look professional, two companies were used, Planet Africa (Pvt) Ltd, said to handle land sales, and Yadah Connect (Pvt) Ltd, said to manage house construction. Both companies were owned and directed by Magaya and his wife. The couple also encouraged people to invest in mining, farming, and beekeeping projects, promising a 50% profit in six months. Thirteen people named in court papers reportedly paid large amounts, around US$48,640 and ZAR 195,000, but they never received any land or profit. The state says all the money is missing and nothing was recovered.
In 2017, when followers started asking questions, Magaya and his wife allegedly tried to calm them down by pretending the project was still real. They approached Dr. Gideon Gono, the former Reserve Bank Governor, and arranged a short-term farming contract at his New Donnington Farm. Magaya then took church members to this farm and falsely claimed it was the land he had bought for them. Court papers say Tendai Magaya was there but did not tell the people that the land actually belonged to Dr. Gono. When the followers later discovered the truth, they reported the case to the police.
Now, Prophet Walter Magaya, Tendai Magaya, Planet Africa (Pvt) Ltd, and Yadah Connect (Pvt) Ltd are facing 13 fraud charges in court. The case accuses them of using religion, trust, and fake promises to collect money from church members under false pretenses. The matter will continue in court on 13 November 2025, as the justice process takes its course.
