UK-based Zimbabwean pastor and gospel singer found guilty of 17-count sexual offences against children and young women

A UK-based Zimbabwean pastor and gospel singer has been convicted of multiple s3xual offences against ch!ldren and young women following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court. Walter Chahwanda, 34, was found guilty of seventeen crimes after a jury deliberated on 3 February 2026.

Chahwanda, a former pastor with the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM), used his position of trust to target victims across the country over a four-year period. According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), he met victims through church activities before connecting with them on social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram, where initial conversations were quickly turned s3xual.

Court proceedings revealed that Chahwanda would comment on the girls’ appearances, send unsolicited explicit pictures and videos of himself, and, in a disturbing escalation, reportedly goad victims into exposing him, suggesting the risk of being caught was part of his fantasy.

Aaron Smith, a lawyer with the CPS Mersey Cheshire RASSO unit, said: “Walter Chahwanda used his position as a respected Pastor to abuse a 14-year-old ch!ld and cause distress to multiple young women and ch!ldren. He had no regard for their wellbeing or vulnerability and was solely focused on his own s3xual gratification.”

Despite several victims reporting his behaviour to church authorities, Chahwanda continued his offending until the father of one victim contacted the NSPCC, prompting others to come forward to police. He was first arrested in February 2024 and re-interviewed in April 2025 as further potential victims were identified.

Chahwanda, of Plemonstall Court in Chester, denied all allegations during police interviews, dismissing s3xualised conversations as “naughty” role-play. He was initially charged with 22 offences relating to nine victims but was found guilty on 17 counts, including s3xual activity with a ch!ld and sending indecent images. He was acquitted on three counts, including r@pe, and two blackmail charges were not pursued.

He is due to be sentenced on 20 March 2026. The CPS praised the courage of the victims, stating that without their testimony, Chahwanda would not have been brought to justice.