The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) has reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing justice in the long-running investigation into allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse of women leveled against PHD Ministries founder Prophet Walter Magaya saying the process has gained momentum despite years of delays caused by legal battles and challenges accessing witnesses.
Speaking during a press conference to commemorate the Commission’s 10th anniversary, ZGC Chief Executive Officer Virginia Muwanigwa provided an update on the probe, first initiated in 2019 and halted by a legal challenge from Prophet Magaya.
“The information around the investigation into the PHD Ministries allegations is ongoing since 2022. As Zimbabwe Gender Commission, we are not allowed by law to rely on secondary information but we have to speak to direct witnesses and then use the information that we get from those witnesses to take the process forward,” Muwanigwa said
Muwanigwa said the Commission initially faced hurdles as potential witnesses were reluctant to come forward.
“We even had some people attending services hoping they would be able to get some information. But what I can tell you now is that there has been some progress and we are very sure that we have the kind of information that can enable us to really say with certainty what advice we can give to other institutions whose responsibility is to take the issue forward,” she said.
The ZGC had gazetted its intention to investigate the matter on August 23, 2019, through General Notice No. 1444/2019.
However, the process stalled after Prophet Magaya challenged the Commission’s authority to conduct the probe, first in the High Court and then at the Supreme Court.
ZGC chairperson Commissioner Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe revealed that the Commission has since cleared all legal obstacles.
“As a Commission, we have done our best in terms of investigating. Initially, when we tried to investigate, he (Magaya) went to the High Court to challenge our authority. We responded and we won.
“And then he went to the Supreme Court to appeal, we went again and the Supreme Court decided that we had authority to investigate. So that was part of the delay—he was challenging our authority,” Commissioner Mukahanana-Sangarwe said.
The Commission formally resolved to recommence the investigation during its 38th Commission meeting held on August 4, 2022, following favorable legal rulings including SC592/19, HC 7347/19, and HH688/19.
While the ZGC has not yet revealed its final findings, the Commission says it is now in a position to offer guidance to other relevant institutions responsible for further action.
The PHD Ministries leader has repeatedly denied the allegations of sexual misconduct and the case has drawn national attention as a test of the country’s institutional resolve to address gender-based abuse involving high-profile religious leaders.
