Zimbabwean pastor Walter Magaya convicted of "curing HIV"

A Zimbabwe court found a so-called popular prophet guilty of fraud and fined him $ 700 (£ 540) for falsely claiming that he was receiving a natural cure for HIV and AIDS. AIDS.

Walter Magaya had previously pleaded guilty to violating the Drug Control Act by selling an unapproved drug.

Police arrested him in November and seized a herbal drug that he said could cure people with HIV and AIDS.

Zimbabwe has the sixth highest HIV prevalence rate in sub-Saharan Africa.

About 1.3 million people were living with HIV, according to United Nations data compiled in 2016.

Magaya, 35, is part of a group of young, vivid and sighted religious personalities who emerged during the economic crisis in Zimbabwe, attracting a large number of followers with promises of miraculous healing and recovery. miraculous money, according to Shingai Nyoka, of the BBC, in the capital Harare

In October, he told his congregation that the drug, named aguma, had the magic power to destroy the AIDS virus in 14 days, reported New Zimbabwe, a private organization.

"The plant is 100% organic, why I say it, it's because we discovered that there were no side effects," he said.

The government called his complaint criminal and the police raided his offices.

In the indictment, Magaya and other people were "just before the search," destroyed some pieces by throwing them in the office toilets and burning containers that were found at half burned.

"Several bags of aguma and other torn pouches were also found in an office trash," added the indictment.

More about Zimbabwe

The pastor's lawyer, Everson Chatambudza, told the court that Magaya thought the drug was genuine, but admitted to breaking the law by distributing it without the authorization of the Ministry of Health, the report said. Governmental newspaper Herald.

Magaya tried to comply with the law by informing the Ministry of Drugs, but he received no response, said Mr Chatambudza.

Magaya had also launched a lipstick last year that he said could improve blood pressure.