MAGAYA'S BODYGUARD IN HOT SOUP: ALLEGEDLY TRIED TO “BUY SILENCE” IN CHURCH LEADER RPE CASE
Prophet Walter Magaya's bodyguard has landed himself behind bars after he allegedly tried to shut down witnesses in a high-stakes rape investigation — a move that has now blown up spectacularly in his face.
Tapiwa Felix Chikondo (35), the trusted security aide to Magaya, was dramatically remanded in custody after prosecutors accused him of interfering with witnesses in a rape complaint filed against his boss.
According to investigators, the bodyguard allegedly went into full damage-control mode, hunting down the complainant’s family in a desperate bid to derail the case.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe [NPA] said Chikondo contacted the complainant’s mother, discouraged her from cooperating with law enforcement, and even helped open lines of communication between her and the church leader at the centre of the storm.
But the real shocker?
The NPA said Chikondo sent US$200 via EcoCash to the mother — supposedly for “transport to Harare to settle the matter,” a move investigators say was a clear attempt to influence the case.
The drama intensified on 28 November 2025 when Chikondo reportedly visited the complainant’s home, where he was warned to stop meddling in the investigation. But the warning came too late.
A police-recovered EcoCash agent register, obtained on 1 December, allegedly nailed him to the transaction, leading to his swift arrest on 2 December.
Chikondo appeared in court where the State argued he had gone too far in trying to twist the justice system. The court was not amused. He was locked up and denied immediate freedom, with the case postponed to 5 December for a bail ruling.
The NPA issued a stern warning: “No one — no matter who they work for — is allowed to interfere with police investigations. Attempts to influence witnesses are serious offences, and the State will respond decisively.
As the rape probe into the high-profile church leader continues, Chikondo’s alleged interference has opened a second front in what is quickly becoming one of the year’s most explosive legal battles.
