By Religion Reporter-Disgraced religious leader Walter Magaya, notorious for scandals ranging from fraud to alleged sexual abuse, has introduced a so-called “Miracle Cash Card,” claiming it has the power to heal and deliver its users.
Magaya, the founder of the controversial Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries, insists that those who “respect and make sacrifices” to acquire the card will experience its miraculous benefits.
In his announcement, Magaya stated:
“It is anointing that you respect that will work for you. Respect is found in sacrifice. If one comes all the way from Bulawayo to attend a service to get a card, that sacrifice, I tell you, will get the anointing to work. If one meditates and takes their time, it will work. If one takes out money and says, ‘This is my seed towards this anointing,’ that anointing will work because you will honor it and respect where your money is.”
Magaya also claimed the cards have already been shipped to South Africa, Botswana, Australia, and other countries.
He encouraged his followers to use the cards during prayer sessions for maximum effect.
Magaya’s pastoral career has been fraught with controversy and criminal allegations.
Investigative reports by ZimEye over the years have exposed numerous scandals, including Facilitating the killings of whistleblowers who sought to expose wrongdoing within his church. Rape allegations, with multiple female congregants accusing him of sexual assault. Fraudulent claims, such as the 2019 debacle when he falsely claimed to have discovered a cure for HIV and AIDS. Magaya promoted a herbal drug called AGUMA, which was swiftly debunked by health authorities, leading to his arrest, a US$700 fine, and a public apology. Launching bizarre “miracle products,” including a lipstick, he claimed could improve health conditions and transporting congregants’ prayer notes to Israel under questionable circumstances.
Magaya’s latest scheme with the “Miracle Cash Card” has been met with widespread scepticism, with critics labelling it yet another exploitative tactic to extort money from vulnerable followers.
Despite his tarnished reputation, Magaya maintains a loyal following, many of whom are drawn by promises of miraculous healings and financial blessings. Observers warn, however, that such schemes often prey on the desperate and financially unstable, enriching the preacher at the expense of his flock.