Magaya Fraud Case: Magistrate Favours Prophet
18 July 2015
Spread the love

A Harare magistrate yesterday shot down attempts by accused persons in the case involving the purchase of a Land Rover Discovery meant for popular preacher, Walter Magaya’s wife, to summon the Prophet Healing and Deliverance (PHD) founder to court saying the application was misplaced.
Regional magistrate Nowell Mupeiwa said only the courts have powers to summon a witness. This was after a man who says he was the middle-man of all the transactions leading to the purchase of a Land Rover discovery 4 for Walter Magaya’s wife testified in court yesterday.
Gilbert Mafusire narrated his version of the case in which four men are accused of swindling Magaya’s wife $116 000 in a botched car deal.
Oceane Perfumes managing director Hupenyu Ignitious Prosper Mashangwa and Cosmas Mushininga, Kudakwashe Larry Mapfumo and Clifford Tinashe Gonde are answering to the fraud charges.
Mafusire said: “Last year, the first accused person failed to manage a debt that he owed a bank. I then referred him to Magaya since he was selling his house.
“He ended up selling his Marlborough house to Magaya at $600 000. When I heard Mango was seeking a supplier for a Land Rover discovery 4 I also referred him to Mashangwa.”
Mafusire said he was present when Mango gave Mashangwa $80 000 and $36 000, respectively.
The second accused person, Mushininga, who was represented by Dumisani Mthombeni, played a telephone recording in which it is alleged Magaya manipulated his client to alter his statement and implicate Mashangwa.
He challenged Magaya to come before the court and identify his voice in the recording.
However, the magistrate dismissed the application on the basis that powers to summon a witness were restricted to the court.
Mango, a senior overseer at Magaya’s church said he was referred to Mashangwa by Mafusire when he sought a supplier for a Land Rover Discovery 4, 2014 model.
Mashangwa was allegedly given $80 000 to import the car from South Africa and deliver it by August 22.
The vehicle was delivered on September 15 and Mashangwa approached Mango asking for $36 000 import duty and registration fees. However, Mashangwa is accused of engaging his accomplices and evaded payment of duty.
The anomalies were discovered by Zimra on March 13 this year leading to the seizure of the vehicle and issuance of a notice of seizure to Magaya.
The accused persons’ actions caused Magaya’s wife to be prejudiced of a vehicle that was acquired at $116 000. Daily News