Story by Peter Chivhima
THE Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader, Walter Magaya’s bid to have his case referred to the Constitutional Court has hit a brick wall after the court dismissed his application for lack of merit.
Magaya, who is facing multiple rape allegations, was back at the Harare Magistrates Court this Thursday.
Magaya, through his legal team last month applied for his matter in which he is accused of raping four complainants to be referred to the Constitutional Court, claiming Constitutional breaches.
He also challenged the court’s ruling that the matter be heard away from the public at the Victim Friendly Court.
However, in its ruling this Thursday, the court dismissed Magaya’s application on the basis that it failed to raise enough grounds to be referred to the Constitutional Court.
The court also ruled that the State’s decision for the proceedings to be heard at the Victim Friendly Court is to protect the victims who were identified by the State as vulnerable.
The court also ruled that the application does not meet the threshold and it will be an abuse of the law.
Earlier on, the PHD Ministries leader appeared in a separate court in a case where he is accused of raping three other women.
According to the court, the rape allegations date back to 2013.
Magaya is also seeking constitutional court referral, arguing that the State tampered with the witness statements.
He will be back at the Harare Magistrates Court this Friday for ruling on his latest application and to be furnished with trial dates for the initial case.
