HARARE – Prophet Passion Java (born Panganai Java), a figure synonymous with flamboyant spirituality and controversial pronouncements, recently announced the official dissolution of his marriage to Ethiopian-born Prophetess Lily Java. He cited a decision reached with “maturity, understanding, and peace”. However, for those familiar with the intricate dynamics of high-profile religious figures in Zimbabwe, such a pronouncement often masks a deeper, more complex narrative. This isn’t just a personal separation; it’s a potential unravelling of a spiritual and financial empire, with significant implications for their vast following and the broader charismatic movement.
Our investigation goes beyond the carefully curated social media statements to explore the underlying tensions and power struggles that may have precipitated this split. Was the dissolution truly amicable, or was it a strategic move to protect assets, ministries, or reputations amidst unseen pressures? We delve into the financial entanglements of their joint ventures, the separate trajectories of their ministries, and the potential impact on their spiritual children and partners.
The phrase “legally dissolved for some time,” as stated by Prophetess Lily, hints at a prolonged period of negotiation and strategic manoeuvring, far removed from the public eye. What were the terms of this dissolution, and how will it affect the future of their individual callings and their shared responsibility as parents? This article aims to peel back the layers of public relations and spiritual rhetoric to reveal the hidden details of a separation that could reshape the landscape of Zimbabwean Pentecostalism.
We examine the precedents for such high-profile religious divorces and the often-unspoken consequences for congregants who have invested their faith and finances into these spiritual unions. The ‘peace’ and ‘understanding’ touted in their statements may well be a carefully constructed facade, designed to manage public perception while the real battles for influence and resources play out behind closed doors. This is not merely a story of a marriage ending, but of an empire recalibrating, with potential ramifications for thousands.
The Second Collapse: A Marriage Built on Controversy
The announcement that Passion Java and his Ethiopian-born wife, Lily Tsegaye, have officially ended their 10-year marriage did not come as a total surprise to those who have been watching the cracks form over the last year. Speculation had reached a fever pitch months ago when Lily reportedly wiped her Instagram account clean, removing every trace of the flamboyant preacher from her digital life.
The couple, who wed in a colourful and lavish ceremony in Jamaica in 2016, have three children together. In his official statement, Java claimed the decision was made with “maturity, understanding, and peace.” He wrote: “This moment serves to inform our partners, spiritual children, and all well-meaning Christians around the world that Lily and I have officially dissolved our marriage. This decision was not made lightly… Though our marriage has come to an end, we remain friends and committed partners in raising our three beautiful children”.
However, the reality behind the scenes suggests a much more turbulent transition. Sources close to the couple hint at a massive power struggle involving their shared financial assets. Only recently, in August 2024, Java boasted of acquiring a property worth US$14 million in Maryland, United States. Yet, by August 2025, reports emerged that the very same property, along with other Kingdom Embassy assets, was facing foreclosure. The “peace” described in their public statements appears to be a strategic mask for a desperate attempt to salvage what remains of their joint financial ventures.
The Ghost of the First Marriage: Yasmin’s Departure
To understand the collapse of Java’s second marriage, one must look back at the wreckage of his first. In 2015, Passion Java was the leader of Kingdom Embassy alongside his first wife, Prophetess Yasmin. The two were a powerful duo in the Zimbabwean prophetic movement and had a son, Uebert Java, named after Java’s former spiritual father, Prophet Uebert Angel.
The divorce from Yasmin was swift and shrouded in scandal. It was widely reported that Java had met Lily Tsegaye at a church conference in Baltimore in 2014, while still married to Yasmin. At the time, Lily was blamed by many for the collapse of the Prophet’s first union. The High Court approved the divorce in February 2016, and within weeks, Java was already moving forward with his new life with Lily.
Perhaps the most shocking detail of the first divorce is what happened to Yasmin afterwards. Stripped of her title and her place in the ministry she helped build, the former Prophetess reportedly underwent a radical spiritual transformation. Following the heartbreak and the public dissolution of her marriage to the man of God, Yasmin eventually converted to Islam, completely turning her back on the Christian faith that had once defined her life. This conversion remains a sensitive topic within the Java camp, representing a significant blow to the Prophet’s spiritual “covering.”
Recent Incidents and the $10 Million Scandal
The timing of the second divorce coincides with a series of high-profile incidents that have rocked the Java empire. In November 2025, gospel artist Chandler Moore reportedly exposed what many believe to be a US$10 million scam involving the Prophet. A video uploaded by Moore allegedly provided evidence of financial irregularities that left Java’s reputation in tatters amongst his international partners.
Furthermore, in August 2025, socialite Millicent Chimonyo, known as Malloti, appeared before the courts in a case involving Java. The details of the incident, which allegedly took place in June of that year, added another layer of controversy to the Prophet’s already stained public image. These legal and financial pressures have undoubtedly strained the “maturity and peace” that Java claims exists in his household.
There are also reports of Java’s increasingly erratic behaviour, including a 2023 incident where he allegedly offered a monetary reward for the assault of a fellow preacher, Pastor Ian Ndlovu. Such actions have led many to question whether the Prophet’s focus has shifted from ministry to madness.
A Strategic Recalibration
For Lily Java, the decision to leave may have been one of self-preservation. As the Java empire faces foreclosure and accusations of fraud, distancing herself legally and financially could be the only way to protect her own interests and those of her children. Her statement that they had been “legally dissolved for some time” suggests that the public announcement was merely the final step in a long-planned exit strategy.
The Zimbabwean Pentecostal landscape is no stranger to high-profile divorces, but the fall of Passion Java is unique because of the sheer scale of his flamboyant lifestyle. From Maybachs and private jets to multi-million dollar mansions, the Prophet’s brand was built on the “Gospel of Prosperity.” When the prosperity fades and the mansions go into foreclosure, the spiritual foundation often crumbles with it.
For the thousands of congregants who invested their faith and finances into the Java union, the news is a bitter pill to swallow. Many are left wondering what will happen to the Kingdom Embassy and the “spiritual children” who looked up to the couple as the ultimate example of a blessed marriage.
Conclusion: The Unseen Battle
The “peace” and “understanding” touted in the official statements are likely a carefully constructed facade. Behind closed doors, the battle for influence, resources, and reputation continues. Passion Java is a man who has built his life on public relations and spiritual rhetoric, but even the most seasoned performer cannot hide the cracks in a crumbling empire forever.
This is not just the story of a second marriage ending; it is the story of a man whose past is catching up with him. From the controversial exit of Yasmin and her subsequent conversion to Islam, to the $10 million scams and property foreclosures of today, the “REAL REASONS” behind the split are far more complex than a simple loss of love. It is a power struggle for survival in the midst of a spiritual and financial storm.
As the Prophet enters this “new season,” the world watches to see if he can once again reinvent himself, or if this second divorce marks the final chapter of the flamboyant empire of Passion Java. It remains to be seen if Prophetess Lily will retain her ‘prophetess’ status, or she will lose it the same way Prophetess Yasmin.
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