Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries founder, Walter Magaya, has directly challenged the authorities, demanding they provide a trial date and accusing them of developing “jelly legs.” The controversial church leader appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court on November 18, 2025, where his legal team slammed the police for what they termed “megaphone investigations” on social media. Magaya, his wife Tendai, and their companies Planet Africa and Yadah Connect are facing multiple fraud charges, while the prophet separately faces allegations of rape.
The court appearance saw the state request a postponement until December 9, 2025, stating that investigators were still recording outstanding witness statements. This request was met with a firm challenge from Magaya’s defence lawyer, Admire Rubaya, who consented to the delay only under a strict condition for the next hearing.
A Stern Warning To The State
Admire Rubaya, representing the Magayas, issued a clear warning to the prosecution during the hearing. He stated that his clients would only agree to the postponement on the explicit understanding that the state must be ready to provide a concrete trial date on December 9. Failure to do so, he warned, would result in an application for his clients’ removal from remand.
Rubaya did not hold back in his criticism of the police’s methods. He asserted that the constant stream of public statements from the police, including a recent allegation about a US$200,000 (approx. R3.6 million) bribery fund, was highly prejudicial to his clients. He argued that the police should emulate the CID Homicide unit, which he claimed investigates thoroughly before making an arrest.
“We confirm the state intimated they seek postponement. This asserts that they arrested the accused without investigating. They must investigate in a manner that is not prejudicial to the accused persons,” Rubaya told the court.
“They Should Not Develop Jelly Legs”
The defence lawyer elaborated on his “megaphone investigations” accusation, painting a picture of a police force more concerned with public perception than courtroom procedure. He expressed frustration that the case, which he claims has been under investigation since 2022, continues to be delayed, causing ongoing prejudice to the accused.
In a bold and colourful turn of phrase, Rubaya challenged the authorities’ resolve, accusing them of losing their nerve as they approach a trial. He emphasised that his clients are fully prepared to answer the charges in a court of law and are eager to see the matter concluded through proper legal channels, not on social media platforms.
“The state should bring the accused to trial. They have been investigating the matter since 2022. The accused persons are ready and the state should investigate the matter in a manner which is not prejudicial to the accused persons. There is no need for megaphone investigations. They have been investigating this case and should not develop jelly legs. This matter should not just be a statistic that in 2025 there was a case involving Magaya.”
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the fraud charges stem from an alleged scheme dating back to 2016. The Magayas are accused of misrepresenting to congregants that they had acquired land in various locations including Chishawasha, Norton, and Bulawayo for housing projects. The court heard that the couple allegedly distributed pamphlets and advertised mining and farming projects to encourage payments. The NPA alleges that various payments were made to PHD Ministries, Planet Africa, and Yadah Connect.
The NPA assured the magistrate that it would be in a position to provide a trial date at the next remand hearing on December 9, 2025.
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The post Walter Magaya Challenges Authorities To Provide Trial Date, Accuses Them Of Developing Jelly Legs appeared first on iHarare News.
