The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has launched a fraud investigation against Walter Magaya following doubts about the authenticity of a diploma he submitted to ZIFA and the High Court.
ZACC has written to ZIFA requesting the documents Magaya submitted when he applied to run for president in last month’s ZIFA executive committee elections.
According to documents seen by <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/zacc-pursues-magaya-after-unisa-says-his-diploma-is-fake/">ZimLive</a>, ZACC also reached out to the Judicial Service Commission seeking the record of proceedings in Magaya’s High Court application, which challenged ZIFA’s decision to bar him from the elections because he did not possess five O’ Levels.
ZACC made these requests for information on January 31.
At the centre of the investigation is a marketing diploma purportedly obtained from the University of South Africa (UNISA), which the university insists it never conferred on Magaya.
Magaya had submitted a copy of the diploma, certified as a true copy of the original by Waterfalls police, to argue that he had a higher qualification than the O’ Level passes required for the ZIFA position.
In a statement released on January 29, UNISA stated that it does not have Walter Magaya “either as a student or a graduate”. It said:
<blockquote>
Any certificate/s he produces which he claims to be from Unisa is/are therefore fraudulent.
</blockquote>
Magaya is a self-proclaimed prophet and the founder of the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministry.
He owns Yadah Stars Football Club, which competes in the Premier Soccer League.

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The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) is investigating Walter Magaya for having a fake diploma from the University of South Africa (UNISA). Magaya submitted this diploma to ZIFA and the High Court. UNISA says they never gave him a diploma. ZACC asked for more information from ZIFA and the High Court about Magaya's case. UNISA called any certificates from Magaya fake. Magaya is a prophet and owns a football club. The investigation is ongoing to find out if Magaya lied about his qualifications.

Magaya In ZACC's Crosshairs Over Fake Diploma

The University of South Africa (UNISA) has decided to take legal action against Walter Magaya for falsely claiming to have obtained a marketing diploma and an honorary doctorate from the institution.
Magaya submitted a photocopied and certified marketing diploma to the High Court last week as part of his attempt to have a decision by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) overturned.
ZIFA had disqualified him from the presidential race, citing his failure to meet the required five Ordinary Level passes.
Magaya argued that his UNISA diploma, being a higher qualification, should be sufficient.
In a recent interview with Zimbabwean sports journalist Yvonne Tendai Mangunda, which has circulated widely on social media, Magaya claimed he had received an honorary doctorate from UNISA.
However, in a statement issued on January 29, UNISA confirmed that it has no record of Magaya as either a student or a graduate.
The university also asserted that it had never awarded him an honorary doctorate and condemned his fraudulent claims. The statement reads:
<blockquote>
The University of South Africa (Unisa) notes with serious concern information doing the rounds in the public domain as well as in a recent video circulating on social media, where it is purported that a certain Zimbabwean national, Walter Magaya, is a graduate or alumnus of the university.
Responding to a media query from a certain international media platform, the university confirmed that, based on the information provided by the said media platform, the system of the university could not find any record showing that Mr Magaya was ever registered or graduated with Unisa.
This effectively means that Unisa does not have Mr Magaya either as a student or a graduate. Any certificate/s he produces which he claims to be from Unisa is/are therefore fraudulent.
Subsequent to the issuing of the media response, the university also came across a video clip in the social media domain, wherein Mr Magaya also claims to have received an honorary doctorate from Unisa.
The university has never conferred any honorary doctorate on Mr Magaya and strongly condemns this false claim.
We believe that conduct of this nature damages and brings our brand into disrepute and we reserve the right to take appropriate corrective action.
Relevant authorities within the university have therefore been requested to take the necessary legal action in this regard.
</blockquote>

UNISA says Walter Magaya lied about getting a marketing diploma and honorary doctorate from them. They are taking legal action against him. ZIFA disqualified Magaya from a race for not having enough qualifications. Magaya showed a fake diploma to try to change ZIFA's decision. UNISA confirmed they have no record of Magaya as a student or graduate. They never gave him an honorary doctorate. UNISA is mad at Magaya for lying and damaging their reputation. They will take legal action against him.

UNISA Labels Magaya A Fraudster, Denies Awarding Him Diploma Or Honorary Doctorate

Investigations have revealed that a diploma from the University of South Africa (UNISA), submitted by Walter Magaya to the High Court last week, is likely a forgery.
The university has confirmed that Magaya’s name does not appear in any of their databases.
Magaya submitted a photocopied and certified diploma in marketing as part of his application to have a decision by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) to disqualify him from the presidential race overturned.
ZIFA had barred Magaya from the elections, citing his failure to meet the required 5 passes at Ordinary Level.
Magaya, however, argued that his UNISA diploma, being a higher qualification, should suffice.
Journalist Maynard Manyowa, of UK-based Dug Up, uncovered the alleged fraud after reaching out to UNISA for confirmation.
In a letter dated January 28, 2025, the university confirmed that they had no record of Magaya’s qualifications. It said:
<blockquote>
Kindly be advised that based on the details you provided; our system could not trace either a student number or date of birth for Mr. Magaya.
This effectively means that we do not have Mr. Magaya as a student of UNISA.
</blockquote>
Magaya has demonstrated his passion for football by founding Yadah FC, a team in the Premier Soccer League. He has also built a stadium and sponsors women’s football in Zimbabwe.
However, as a preacher, Magaya has been surrounded by controversy. He previously claimed to have developed a cure for HIV/AIDS, and some women from his church have accused him of sexual abuse.

Walter Magaya tried to use a fake diploma to run for president of ZIFA. UNISA says the diploma is not real. Magaya's name is not in the UNISA database. ZIFA disqualified Magaya for not passing 5 subjects in school. Magaya thought his UNISA diploma was enough. Investigator Maynard Manyowa found out the diploma was fake. UNISA confirmed Magaya is not their student. Magaya loves football but has been in trouble for other things. He said he made a cure for HIV and was accused of hurting women in his church.

UNISA Says Walter Magaya’s Marketing Diploma Does Not Exist

The University of South Africa (UNISA) has dismissed claims by Mandisa Mashego, a former EFF member, that it is under investigation for issuing fake degrees.
In a podcast, Mandisa said UNISA was “becoming like these Nigerian universities”.
She also claimed that the institution was being investigated for fake degrees, for people who sit and write exams for others or even do the entire curriculum for them.
In a statement released on 01 April 2023, UNISA demanded that Mandisa apologise and withdraw her utterances, saying it reserved the right to also legally challenge the leader of Abantu Batho Congress. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
The University of South Africa (Unisa) has taken note of the interview by Penuel “The Black Pen” with Mandisa Mashego who made unjustified and unsubstantiated statements that Unisa is currently under investigation for fake degrees, for people writing curriculum for others, for running classes, for corruption and “Lot of things”.
She also likened Unisa to some “Nigerian universities” that she alleges have no legitimacy (though they are accredited).
Unisans and the rest of the University community should dismiss the misleading utterances of Ms. Mashego with the contempt they deserve.
Unisa’s academic integrity, credibility, legitimacy, and stature are not in doubt. The university continues to shape futures of various people across the world including leaders of various sectors of society. I
t makes a tremendous contribution to the higher education sector by graduating around a third of all graduates in South Africa.
As a public institution of higher learning that is governed by a range of applicable rules and regulations including those relating to quality assurance and accreditation; we remain in focused in supporting and promoting the academic project of our university and strive to improve student support that enhances their positive experience of Unisa.
Having said that, Unisa calls upon Ms. Mashego to withdraw her utterances and apologise to Unisa. The university reserves the right to also challenge Ms. Mashego legally.
</blockquote>
UNISA is reported to be the largest university system in South Africa by enrollment has over 400 000 students, including international students from 130 countries worldwide.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200009522/ed-demands-re-run-in-violence-hotspots">Pindula News</a>

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