Story by Peter Chivhima
PROPHETIC Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader Walter Magaya, appears in court this Monday seeking to have his rape cases referred to the Constitutional Court, challenging the decision to proceed in the Victim Friendly Court.
Magaya faces four counts of rape. His legal team argues that conducting the matter in the Victim-Friendly Court violates his constitutional rights.
The State opposes the application, maintaining that the proceedings should continue in the Victim-Friendly Court to protect the alleged complainants, whom prosecutors describe as vulnerable witnesses.
In dismissing an earlier objection, the court rules that hearing the matter in the Victim Friendly Court is in the best interests of safeguarding the complainants and preserving the integrity of proceedings.
Magaya is also expected to appear separately for the commencement of trial in another case in which he is accused of raping two congregants.
According to court papers, one of the cases dates back to 2013. Prosecutors allege that Magaya meets one complainant when she is seriously ill and later invites her to a hotel, where he allegedly rapes her. The State further alleges that the abuse involving the same complainant occurred on two additional occasions.
In a separate matter, he faces allegations relating to an incident said to occur in 2018 in South Africa. Prosecutors allege that he travels with a complainant under the pretext of business activities and later subjects her to sexual assault.
Magaya denies the allegations. The matters remain before the courts.
