Controversial cleric and PHD Ministries founder Walter Magaya is facing renewed scrutiny after police recovered unregistered medicines and drugs during a raid at Yadah Hotel in Harare.
Detectives from CID Headquarters reportedly acted on a tip-off on November 15 last year, alleging that unregistered and unapproved complementary medicines were being stored in one of the hotel rooms in Waterfalls. Upon arrival, officers conducted a search and discovered large quantities of medicines including metronidazole, clotrimazole, acyclovir topical cream, fluconazole tablets, cotrimoxazole pills, miconazole nitrate vaginal cream, CO Q10 vascular care, sodium bicarbonate injections, Stillen Aupatillin injections, restorative lip balm and azithromycin.
According to court papers, Compounded Prescription Weekly forms were also recovered, allegedly indicating that the medicines were intended for an individual identified as Happiness Mavindire.
Yadah Hotel, represented by director Donald Makuvaza, appeared before Harare magistrate Lisa Mutendereki and pleaded guilty to charges of possession of unregistered medicines and unapproved complementary medicines. The matter has been remanded to March 10 for plea recording.
The State maintains that the hotel had no legal authority to possess the medicines in question.
Auction Confusion Brings Partial Relief
Amid the legal storm, there was temporary relief for Magaya after reports circulated that Yadah Hotel and the adjacent Heart Stadium were set to be auctioned.
The auction, to be conducted by Graham & Douglas Real Estate under instructions from the Sheriff of Zimbabwe, initially sparked speculation that the two high-profile properties would go under the hammer at Raylton Sports Club.
However, an official from the auctioning company clarified that Yadah Hotel and Heart Stadium are not part of the properties scheduled for sale.
Instead, properties listed include Stand 166 Smuts Road in Prospect, a 3.2323-hectare property featuring a six-bedroom house registered under Planet Africa (Private) Limited, and an 8.7146-hectare property at No. 6 Caledon Avenue in Prospect, Waterfalls.
The auction proceedings stem from a dispute involving microfinance institution GetBucks, which approached the High Court seeking liquidation over a US$420,140.72 debt.
Mounting Legal Pressure
The latest developments add to Magaya’s mounting legal challenges. He was recently ordered by the High Court to repay his Israeli business partner US$3 million and is also facing separate rape charges currently before the courts.
For now, while Yadah Hotel and Heart Stadium have avoided immediate auction, the combination of court battles, financial disputes and criminal proceedings continues to cast a long shadow over the preacher’s business empire.
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