The High Court has temporarily halted the rape trial of Walter Magaya, the founder of Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries, which was scheduled to continue at the Magistrates’ Court.
The decision was made by Justice Tawanda Chitapi after Magaya filed an urgent application seeking to stop the trial, raising concerns about how the judicial process was being handled.
Magaya is facing rape allegations from four complainants, and the case had been set to proceed before Magistrate Esthere Chivasa. However, the church leader is contesting the magistrate’s decision to conduct the proceedings in a Victim-Friendly Court.
Through his legal application, Magaya argues that the case should instead be heard in an open court, stating that such a setting would help ensure transparency and a fair trial.
In court documents, Magaya claims that Magistrate Chivasa dismissed his objections prematurely and relied heavily on the State’s outline of allegations without conducting what he describes as independent verification of the claims. He further characterized the magistrate’s approach as “constitutionally reckless” and warned that it could lead to a miscarriage of justice.
The High Court has now set a timeline for the submission of legal documents related to the application. Responses from the parties involved are expected by March 13, 2026, while Magaya’s reply to those submissions must be filed by March 20, 2026.
In addition to halting the trial for now, Magaya is also seeking the removal of Magistrate Chivasa from the case, requesting that the matter be heard afresh under a different magistrate.
The High Court’s decision means the trial will remain on hold until the application is fully considered and a ruling is made on the issues raised by Magaya and his legal team.
