UPDATE: NPAZ Rejects Request to Remove Prosecutor from Magaya Trial

The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ)

HARARE — The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) has rejected an application to recuse its Chief Director of Prosecutions, Ms Tendayi Shonhayi, from participating in the prosecution of televangelist Walter Magaya in his high-profile rape trial.

In a statement issued on 18 February 2026, the authority dismissed the recusal request lodged by Magaya’s legal representatives, Rubaya and Chatambudza Legal Practitioners, saying the application lacked substance and was not supported by evidence of misconduct.

The defence team had asked the Prosecutor General to remove Ms Shonhayi from the prosecutorial team, alleging that her continued involvement could compromise Magaya’s right to a fair trial. However, the NPAZ said that after a “thorough investigation” by the Prosecutor General, there was no valid or lawful basis to justify her removal.

According to the authority’s statement, the allegations raised by Magaya’s lawyers were “without any cogent evidence of any prosecutorial impropriety.” The request was reportedly premised in part on an asserted rivalry between Magaya’s church, Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries, and a separate church, which the defence claimed could influence the prosecutor’s impartiality.

Reaffirming the independence of prosecutors under the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the National Prosecuting Authority Act, the statement stressed that prosecutorial decisions are made strictly in accordance with the law, available evidence, and the public interest. It emphasised that officers of the authority are not “subject to the direction or control of any person or authority” in the exercise of their functions.

As a result of the decision, Ms. Shonhayi will remain on the prosecutorial team in the Magaya rape trial, and NPAZ has formally communicated its ruling to the defence counsel.

Background: Recusal Application and Case Status

Previously, Magaya’s lawyers filed an application asserting that Ms. Shonhayi’s alleged affiliation with another church created a perceived conflict of interest that could undermine the fairness and impartiality of the prosecution. The defence also raised procedural concerns about how certain aspects of the trial had been handled, including the presentation of charges and the conduct of witness evidence.

Magaya is currently facing multiple rape charges in court, and his trial has included disputable procedural events, such as disagreements over whether some witnesses should testify in the Victim Friendly Unit rather than open court and debates about the defence’s right to cross-examine in public.

Despite the rejected recusal request, the broader legal contest involving Magaya’s team continues, with defence lawyers signalling further challenges in the unfolding proceedings.

If you need a fresh headline, social share text, or contextual sidebar summary to accompany this update on your site, just let me know!

Magaya prosecutor recusal rejected