Harare, Zimbabwe | In a move that has left many questioning his integrity, Prophet Walter Magaya has accepted a lavish gift and substantial cash from Wicknell Chivayo, a prominent businessman and staunch follower of the Johane Masowe apostolic sect.
This gesture has sparked outrage, given Magaya’s previous denunciations of the Masowe faith as being rooted in “marine spirits” and the “dark kingdom.”
Magaya, the leader of Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries, has long criticized apostolic sects, including Masowe, for practices he deemed unbiblical and spiritually dangerous. In his booklet Marine Spirits, Mweya Yemumvura, Magaya stated:
“It is from these Orion and Leviathan spirits of the marine kingdom where false, non-Bible believing white garment churches are derived.”
He further accused these churches of deceiving followers and leading them into bondage, claiming that many individuals who visited such shrines had their problems worsened and were subjected to threats, including death, to keep them in the faith.
Given this history, Magaya’s acceptance of a generous gift from Chivayo—a devoted Masowe believer—raises serious questions about his consistency and sincerity. Critics argue that by accepting such offerings, Magaya is compromising his previously held beliefs for personal gain.
One observer remarked:
“This is a clear case of hypocrisy. How can someone who once condemned a faith as demonic now accept gifts from its adherents? It undermines the very principles he claimed to uphold.”
Furthermore, Chivayo’s actions also draw criticism. As a prominent figure within the Masowe sect, his decision to lavish gifts upon a leader of a rival religious movement is seen by some as an attempt to bridge ideological divides for personal or political advantage.