By Own Correspondent- Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries (PHD) leader Prophet Walter Magaya was again in no show at Harare magistrates courts as his church has been hauled to court over tax evasion.

Magaya sent a representative whose name is yet to be confirmed to answer to charges being leveled against PHD ministries. When PHD made its first appearance on February 16, its leader was also in no show.

PHD ministries was on February 16 2019 charged for breaching Value Added Tax (VAT) regulations on nearly $29 million and the matter remanded to today (February 28) for trial.

The State alleges that the money was generated from the sale of church wares over four years. The complainant in the matter is the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) which was represented by its chief investigations officer, Tinashe Madakadze.

The State is arguing that PHD ministries raises revenue from selling church regalia, anointing oil and holy water, as well as from a guest house which is widely known as Yadah Hotel. Prosecutor Peter Kachirika alleged that sometime in October 2018, Zimra had conducted tax investigations on PHD and recovered financial statements from the church for the period 2013 to 2017. Zimra had also recovered financial statements from the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe, which were submitted by PHD for a loan application.

The statements showed that PHD had allegedly made sales amounting to $28,7 million between 2013 and 2017. It was further alleged that during the same period, PHD had paid remuneration amounting to $950 522 to the clergyman’s wife, Tendai Magaya. The State also accused PHD of also transferring remuneration of US$2,4 million to Magaya’s own bank account without paying the due Pay As You Earn (Paye) tax.

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