HARARE - Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader Prophet Walter Magaya has denied Denford Mutashu’s accusations that he committed adultery with his wife.
Through his lawyers, Magaya said Mutashu’s case was nothing but an attention-seeking gimmick by individuals.
“Whilst making a claim for adultery damages, plaintiff (Mutashu) does not allege, plead or place reliance upon any real or alleged sexual encounter between defendant and his wife,” Magaya’s attorneys Rubaya and Chatambudza Legal Practitioners said in the High Court yesterday.
“No date and place of any sexual encounter has been set out as is required by law.”
Magaya said no particulars that would support the commission of adultery have been set out or relied upon in the entire request.
“The claim is consequently set in vacuo (vacuum), incompetent and devoid of any recognised legal basis.”
The Daily News is reliably informed that Magaya yesterday visited police at Harare Central Police Station where he reportedly gave evidence of how senior officials connived to extort money from him through false allegations.
While Magaya was not available for comment yesterday, a pastor with the church confirmed the development.
“Yes, Prophet Magaya was at the police where he gave them details of what transpired.
“At least we have now cleared the air and we can concentrate on what we do best — delivering the word of God and deliverance to the people.
“We pray that the developments of the past few days will put to rest all these malicious and false allegations,” said the pastor.
After Mutashu sued for $500 000 adultery damages, his wife Memory Nomsa Ruvazhe deposited an affidavit denying the adultery claims.
The case also took a dramatic twist on Wednesday when police summoned former Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) chief executive officer, Henrietta Rushwaya over allegations that
she was behind people who wanted to extort money from Magaya.
Rushwaya used to attend PHD Ministries until two weeks ago and had become one of Magaya’s closest associates.
But Mutashu is insisting that Magaya was having an illicit affair with his wife.
Magaya, through his lawyers from Rubaya & Chatambudza Legal Practitioners, who have instructed Advocate Thabani Mpofu, said the application is devoid of merit, and lacks the basic principles expected of such a suit.
He said Mutashu’s claim failed to disclose cause of action recognisable at law.
Mutashu has also filed criminal charges against the celebrity preacher, accusing him of bigamy and making death threats against him.
He approached the High Court saying Magaya had ignored his letters of demand.
Mutashu’s wife claims problems arose after she went to the prophet’s guest house in Marlborough, where she stayed for three days seeking spiritual guidance and divine healing.
Mutashu claims Ruvazhe was having an inappropriate sexual liaison with Magaya during those three days.
“When I returned from the guest house, I started having problems with my husband with him accusing me of being in love with the prophet,” Ruvazhe said in her July 30 affidavit.
Ruvazhe said in the affidavit that the adultery claims were an extortion plan, meant to milk the prophet of cash.
“I wish to place it on record that I have never been in a relationship with Prophet Walter Magaya nor am I in any form of relationship with the prophet,” the wife said.
“However, of late my husband seems to have devised a plan to extort money from Prophet Magaya based on his false allegations.”
The woman said her husband banked on Magaya’s popularity, hoping to make a lot of money, if the prophet backed down, in a bid to save his image.
Ruvazhe said she refused to publicly admit having an affair with the prophet.
“I have resisted all efforts by my husband to falsely accuse Prophet Magaya to be in an adulterous affair with myself,” Ruvazhe said.
However, Mutashu, through his lawyers from Mugiya and Macharaga Legal Practitioners, insists that the prophet was having an affair with his wife.
In their High Court application, the lawyers claim to be in possession of love text messages and a printout of an inappropriate mobile phone communication between Magaya and Ruvazhe.
But, Magaya, on the other hand, claims Mutashu is relying on speculation.
Magaya alternatively wants Mutashu’s application to be struck off the motion roll, arguing the suit was “irrelevant, superfluous, verbose and unnecessarily argumentative”.
“Wherefore defendant prays that his exception, alternatively application to strike out may be upheld and plaintiff’s claim dismissed with a special order as to costs,” the prophet
said.
“The costs to be on the higher scale of legal practitioner and own client. Such costs to be borne by plaintiff’s legal practitioner de bonis propiis (out of one’s own pocket).
“An order directing plaintiff’s legal practitioner to refund plaintiff of all the fees he has charged in connection with this matter with such refund being made through the Registrar of the High Court of Zimbabwe, and an order directing plaintiff’s legal practitioner to place the judgment of the court in this matter before the executive secretary of the Law Society of Zimbabwe in order for him to take appropriate corrective action,” he said.