A woman reported by The Sunday Mail to have been raped by Prophetic Healing Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader Prophet Walter Magaya has hit out at the “lies“ in a video.
Sarah Maruta claims she was unwittingly dragged into an extortion plot involving some of Magaya‘s bitter former congregants and journalists at the state-owned weekly.
“They wanted to use me. I told them I didn’t want any involvement, and I knew nothing about what they were claiming (that she was raped). They kept saying they want to bring down Magaya,” she says in the video.
In a story headlined “MAGAYA BOMBSHELL”, the paper had named Maruta as being among “more women … coming out to make allegations of improper sexual behaviour against the man-of-cloth (Magaya).”
Here is the transcript of everything Sarah said in the video:
I am Sarah Maruta. I want to set the record straight on an issue I was taken by Charity Dlodlo to reporter Garikai Mazara.
Charity Dlodlo said she wanted me to help her add “soup“ to her. It all started on Facebook when Enisia Mashusha, Simba and Charity Dlodlo offered me a ticket to London, saying they wanted to fight Prophet Magaya. I refused it. When I turned down the offer, Charity gave Garikai my phone number, and he approached me saying he wanted to meet with me.
I went to the Sunday Mail offices on Wednesday with Charity. When we got there, we sat in an empty room. Then Garikai said to me;
“Sarah, I want you to help Charity Dlodlo so that her story has an impact. Charity said she knew you from Church for a long time. Help her with the talking. I hate Prophet Magaya, and I want him to fall down hard, he thinks he‘s clever.”
Just because he hates him.
Charity had her grudges [with prophet Magaya] because they took each other to court with Jim, which I was not aware of.
After Garikai had said his piece, we sat down with Charity.
Garika said:
“Sarah, I want you to say this and this, also mention Mrs Chivero, Jim and Chatambudza‘s names so that our story is more impactful.”
Having told so, I said it was ok, but I hope the story would not be published.
Then Garikai Mazara the reporter called me on Friday saying,
“Sarah, I have shown my boss Victoria Ruzvidzo Charity‘s story. She said she was publishing it.”
I said;
“You‘re about to publish it? Do you want to involve me in a story that I know nothing about, a lie by the way? How do you want to publish such a story which you did not inform me about?”
He said the story was coming out on Sunday and that if we were not in agreement, I could go see his editor Victoria Ruzvidzo.
I went back to the Sunday Mail offices and met Garikai and Vitoria Ruzvidzo. I told them I wanted nothing to do with the Prophet Magaya stories they wanted me to be part of it. It’s pure lies.
“You want to use me to do something I do not know. I don’t want to be part of these Prophet Magaya stories, and I know nothing about it.“
Victoria Ruzvidzo asked what was I afraid of. She said they would see that I have state security protection as they claim to know the Assistant Commissioner.
I said no, it‘s not about my security but I wouldn’t lie to God as it will ruin my self-image as I would want to get married.
I explained all this to them, but she refused [to bin the story].
I went home.
On Saturday I went to see her [Victoria] again with my father and said;
“I have brought my father with me, so he could speak to you about the story you’re shoving me to speak as you want to extort money [from Prophet Magaya].
Victoria Ruzvidzo had said my story was so good and that she wanted Magaya to fall for the last time.
My father greeted her, and I insisted that I didn’t want to be part of their foul play.
While I was there with my father, Ruzvidzo said they had already sent the story to press and it was impossible to revoke it.
I stormed out, and Charity Dlodlo and Garikai said they have been offered money by Enisia Mashusha and Simba. I still refused to be part of it.
I’m now speaking Zimbabwe because I do not want to be made to do some things I do not know, things I’m not involved in, trying to ruin my image.
Prefer to hear it from the horse’s mouth? Watch the video below:
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