Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader Walter Magaya’s bodyguard is also in court after assaulting the police during the preacher’s arrest over the weekend. The incident unfolded at the preacher’s secluded prayer retreat in Waterfalls, where police had arrived to detain the clergyman.
Tapiwa Felix Chikondo, aged 34 and an active member of the Zimbabwe National Army, stands accused of defeating or obstructing the course of justice, with an alternative charge of assaulting a peace officer. He made his appearance at the Harare Magistrates’ Court, where he was physically connected to Magaya himself, who was present for separate proceedings concerning allegations of rape and fraud.
The court was presented with a statement from Officer-in-Charge Washington Mashizha of the CID Commercial Crimes Division, which detailed the events of November 1. According to the report, detectives were arriving to execute a lawful warrant for Magaya’s arrest when Chikondo intervened.
Officer Mashizha stated, “He shouted, ‘Makapinda papi? (Where did you enter?)’, insisting they had no right to be on the property. He then charged towards Detective Assistant Inspector Munyaradzi Chifamba and pushed him to the ground before we managed to restrain and handcuff him.
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The prosecution contends that Chikondo’s actions were deliberately violent and were part of a pattern of behaviour designed to interfere with official police duties relating to the high-profile preacher.
Magaya’s Bodyguard In Court For Assaulting The Police
In a spirited defence, Chikondo’s lawyer, Stephen Chikotora, argued that his client was being unfairly targeted in the wider investigation into Magaya. He painted a picture of a man simply performing his duties at a security boom gate, unaware of the larger operation unfolding elsewhere on the property.
Chikotora told the court,
“The accused was merely at the boom gate when detectives went to arrest Prophet Magaya. He never interfered with the arrest and was not even aware of what was happening up the mountain. The state is trading on speculation. This is not a serious offence – even on conviction, the maximum sentence is one year.”
The defence lawyer further emphasised that Chikondo was a rooted individual, with a family home in Harare, a wife and children, and a career in the army, all of which made him an unlikely candidate to flee from justice.
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However, the state prosecutor, Lancelot Mutsokoti, vehemently opposed the granting of bail. He argued that the accused person’s history suggested a real risk of him absconding and a continued threat to the public.
“The accused has another pending case at Waterfalls Police Station involving defeating the course of justice,” Mutsokoti revealed to the magistrate. “That record alone shows a pattern. Even if he surrenders his passport, it’s no guarantee he won’t leave by other means.”
With the bail application now under consideration, the case has been adjourned. Presiding Magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa is set to deliver her ruling on whether Tapiwa Felix Chikondo will be released on bail or remain in custody as the legal process continues.
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The post Walter Magaya’s Bodyguard In Court For Assaulting The Police During The Preacher’s Arrest appeared first on iHarare News.
