ZACC Probes Magaya Over Alleged Fake UNISA Diploma

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has launched a fraud investigation into prominent preacher and businessman Walter Magaya over allegations that he submitted a fake diploma in his bid for the ZIFA presidency.

Magaya, the founder of the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries and owner of Premier Soccer League club Yadah Stars, is accused of presenting a marketing diploma supposedly obtained from the University of South Africa (UNISA). However, the institution has publicly denied ever enrolling or graduating him.

“Any certificate he produces which he claims to be from UNISA is therefore fraudulent,” the university declared in a statement issued on January 29.

The controversy emerged after Magaya submitted the diploma—certified as a true copy by Waterfalls police—to both the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) and the Harare High Court. He used it to argue that he had a qualification higher than the five O’ Level passes required for ZIFA’s top leadership position.

ZACC has since written to ZIFA requesting all documents Magaya submitted in his application for the presidency in last month’s elections. The anti-corruption body has also engaged the Judicial Service Commission, seeking access to the High Court records from Magaya’s legal challenge against ZIFA’s decision to bar him from contesting due to his academic qualifications.

Officials say the requests for information were formally made on January 31 as part of the ongoing investigation.

For now, Magaya remains at the center of yet another storm, one that could have serious legal consequences if the allegations are proven true.