Why do false prophets always cry “persecution” when caught doing wrong?

There is something deeply troubling about the growing number of self-styled prophets who, after being accused of serious crimes, quickly rush to claim that they are being “persecuted for doing God’s work.”

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The latest is Walter Magaya, who was arrested last weekend and appeared in court facing five counts of rape and 13 counts of fraud.

Yet, barely hours after his court appearance, he issued a statement to his followers claiming that these “legal challenges” were necessary for the benefit of his spirit and his mission as a prophet.

He even likened his situation to carrying a “big cross” for the sake of his congregation’s deliverance.

This attempt to portray himself as a suffering servant of God unfairly cheapens the genuine suffering of true prophets and apostles, who were persecuted not for moral or criminal offences, but for proclaiming the truth of God.

It is an insult to those who endured imprisonment, torture, and death for boldly speaking God’s word to power.

Throughout the Bible, we find many prophets and apostles persecuted, but their suffering was always directly connected to their divine calling.

Their accusers twisted or distorted their work for God — not created new, unrelated offences.

They were never charged with theft, rape, or fraud.

Their persecution was meant to silence their message, not expose personal immorality.

Christ Himself was accused of blasphemy for claiming to be the Son of God, because His statement challenged the religious beliefs of both the Jews, who held that God had no son, and the Romans, who considered the Emperor to be divine.

He was also accused of misleading the people, simply for teaching truths that contradicted the doctrines and authority of the time.

Prophet Amos was accused of plotting against King Jeroboam because his words challenged the king’s injustice.

Elijah was accused by King Ahab of bringing disaster upon Israel, simply because he condemned the idolatry and corruption that were inviting God’s punishment on the nation.

Paul was accused of stirring rebellion against Rome because his teachings on Christ undermined the emperor’s claim to divine authority.

In all these cases, the accusations were tied to their prophetic mission.

Their enemies tried to silence them by criminalizing their faithfulness to God.

But none of them were ever accused of raping their followers, defrauding the poor, or exploiting the vulnerable.

These accusations we now see against many so-called “prophets” are not distortions of ministry work — they are allegations of personal misconduct, often supported by evidence and witness testimony.

That difference is crucial.

When Jesus stood before Pilate, even His enemies could not point to any personal sin or immorality.

They had to invent charges to justify their hatred.

When Paul was arrested, his accusers could not find fault in his conduct, but only in his message.

Even when Daniel’s rivals wanted to destroy him, they could find “no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent” (Daniel 6:4).

They had to create a law against prayer just to frame him.

Compare that to the scandals that have engulfed modern self-proclaimed prophets across Zimbabwe and beyond.

When allegations of rape, fraud, or money laundering surface, these are not new forms of persecution — they are crimes of personal greed and moral decay.

They have nothing to do with preaching the gospel or healing the sick.

When a “prophet” is accused of swindling his congregants out of their savings or abusing women who come to him for prayer, that is not persecution — it is exposure.

It is both tragic and infuriating that many of these so-called prophets still manage to manipulate their followers even from behind bars, convincing them that their arrest is part of a divine test or spiritual warfare.

They turn their criminal charges into sermons, their victims into enemies, and their shame into a spectacle of fake holiness.

Walter Magaya’s recent message to his followers — telling them that his arrest is “necessary for the benefit of his spirit” — fits that manipulative pattern perfectly.

It is a way of deflecting guilt, shifting focus from his alleged victims to himself, and keeping his congregation emotionally enslaved.

Real persecution is when a man of God suffers for righteousness’ sake.

It is when his genuine work for God is deliberately twisted into a crime — for example, being arrested for refusing to obey a law that forbids praying or preaching in public, just as Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den for praying to God, and the Apostles were jailed for preaching the gospel.

False persecution is when a man suffers the consequences of his own unrighteousness and tries to sanctify it.

It is when someone caught in theft, fraud, or sexual immorality claims he is being attacked for doing God’s work — as we see today with self-proclaimed prophets who, after being exposed for exploiting or abusing their followers, cry “persecution” to mask their guilt.

The Bible warns us about this.

Jesus Himself said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15).

Peter also warned that “many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute” (2 Peter 2:2).

That is exactly what we are witnessing today — people who use the name of God to enrich themselves, exploit their followers, and when caught, drag the gospel through the mud by pretending to be persecuted saints.

As Christians, we must learn to distinguish between persecution and prosecution.

Persecution is when the righteous are punished for doing what is right.

Prosecution is when the guilty face justice for doing what is wrong.

The two are not the same.

Jesus was persecuted; Magaya is being prosecuted.

Paul was persecuted; today’s self-anointed prophets are being investigated for crimes against their own congregants.

The early church was persecuted for preaching Christ; today’s charlatans are being held to account for exploiting the faith of innocent believers.

It is heartbreaking that some of these individuals still manage to attract sympathy from the very people they have allegedly defrauded or abused.

It shows how deeply manipulation has taken root in the modern church.

Many followers have been conditioned to see their leaders as divine beings who can do no wrong, and any accusation against them as a test of faith.

Yet, true faith does not demand blindness to evil.

God’s people are called to discernment, not blind loyalty.

No genuine prophet of God would ever exploit, assault, or defraud the very people he claims to serve.

The ministry of Christ was rooted in love, humility, and self-sacrifice — not manipulation, greed, and control.

Jesus fed the hungry; He did not take their last coins.

He healed the sick; He did not violate them.

He washed the feet of His disciples; He did not demand they worship Him.

His example leaves no room for the kind of predatory behavior we see today.

When men who call themselves prophets commit crimes and then claim persecution, they are mocking the suffering of Christ and the blood of the true martyrs who died for the gospel.

Their deceit does not just tarnish their own names — it brings shame upon the entire body of Christ and erodes public trust in the church.

It is time for believers to stop confusing accountability with persecution.

When a pastor or prophet faces criminal charges for defrauding or abusing others, that is not the devil attacking the church — that is justice doing its work.

The true prophets of God stood on truth even when it cost them their freedom or their lives.

False prophets hide behind lies even when the truth catches up with them.

The difference between the two is as clear as light and darkness.

And in the end, as Jesus said, “By their fruits you shall know them.”

• Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice advocate and writer. Please feel free to WhatsApp or Call: +263715667700 | +263782283975, or email: mbofana.tendairuben73@gmail.com, or visit website: https://mbofanatendairuben.news.blog/