High Court Orders Walter Magaya to Repay US$3 Million, Threatens Key Assets Including Yadah Hotel
Date: February 22, 2026 | Category: Crime & Courts | Source: Local Zimbabwe News
A Divine Contradiction Exposed: The High Court of Zimbabwe has ordered the leader of Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries, Walter Magaya, to repay a staggering US$3 million (approximately R54 million) to an Israeli business partner. The judgment highlights the growing scrutiny on prominent religious figures and the importance of accountability in financial dealings.
In a ruling that reverberates from the pulpit to the public, Justice Maxwell Takuva dismissed Magaya’s defense as a "shield of fraud" and warned that he risks losing key assets, including the luxury Yadah Hotel. The court emphasized that attempts to use exchange control regulations to avoid repayment stand in "stark and troubling contrast" to the scriptures Magaya preaches, underscoring the clash between his public persona and private dealings.
Justice Served: Zimbabwe High Court Ruling Against Walter Magaya
Legal analysts note that the ruling sets a precedent for transparency and financial accountability among religious organizations in Zimbabwe. As Magaya faces the possibility of losing personal and business assets, the judgment sends a clear message: no individual is above the law.
Read more: Full Coverage of Zimbabwe High Court Rulings
PHD Ministries leader Walter Magaya Case Breakdown
The judgment arises from a Memorandum of Agreement dated 12 May 2022. Magaya received US$3 million from Israeli businessman Ronny Aharon Musan Levi for a mining project.
The Condition
Magaya was required to register a first-ranking mortgage over Yadah Hotel Properties within 30 days as security.
The Breach
Court papers revealed Magaya neither registered the bond nor repaid a single cent of the investment.
Magaya, through his lawyer Advocate Garikai Sithole, argued the deal was void under Zimbabwe’s Exchange Control Regulations because it lacked Reserve Bank approval.
The "Shield of Fraud"
He suggested he could repay the debt in depreciating local currency. Justice Takuva dismantled this, ruling that the law cannot be used as an "engine of fraud" to allow unjust enrichment.
In a pointed section of the judgment, Justice Takuva addressed the hypocrisy of Magaya’s legal tactics vs. his spiritual standing.
“The defendant’s conduct in this matter stands in stark and troubling contrast to the very scriptures he professes to hold as a man of God, pastor, and leader of a Christian Ministry.”
The court ruled that Magaya had directly benefited from the transaction and could not now hide behind technicalities to keep the money.
Prophet Walter Magaya and The Cost of Justice
The ruling clears the way for immediate enforcement.
Punitive Interest
The debt attracts interest at 3% per month, compounded monthly, effective from 1 July 2022 until fully settled.
Asset Execution
The order includes provisions to make Magaya’s immovable property—specifically Yadah Hotel—executable if he fails to pay.
Legal Costs
Costs were awarded on a higher scale, underscoring the court’s disapproval of the abuse of process by the PHD leader.
Mounting Legal Troubles
This financial catastrophe is the latest in a series of legal nightmares. Magaya is currently facing four counts of rape involving adult congregants (2016–2023), charges he denies. Recently, his team requested the recusal of prosecutor Tendayi Shonhayi, alleging bias linked to a rival church.
The Bottom Line: As the prophet grapples with a debt that could strip his assets and a trial threatening his liberty, the judgment serves as a stark reminder: in the eyes of the law, no man stands above its reach.
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