Wikipedia

Passion Java

Passion Java (born Panganai Java; 29 October 1987)[2] is a Zimbabwean, Christian preacher,[3] socialite,[4][5] entrepreneur, music promoter[6] and author.[7][8][9] He is also an associate of the Zimbabwean president, Emerson Mnangagwa.

Passion Java
Born
Panganai Java

(1987-10-29) 29 October 1987 (age 36)
Harare, Zimbabwe
NationalityZimbabwean
Other namesTwabam[1]
Occupations
  • Clergyman
  • businessman
  • socialite
  • musician
  • music producer
Spouse(s)
Yasmin Java
​
(div. 2015)​

Lily Tsegaye
​
(m. 2016)​

Background

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Born Panganai Java, Passion Java[10] was born in Harare the capital city of Zimbabwe in a family of six children.[11] He is the sixth child of the late MDC Alliance senator for Buhera Cristine Rambanepasi Java and the late Charles Java.[12] He grew up in Chitungwiza and had his secondary education at Seke 2 High School. He is from Java Village in Buhera Central.[13][14] According to his mother in an interview, Java started prophesying when he was in grade four, when he predicted his father's death who then died on a Sunday that same week. In 2018 Passion Java is said to have predicted the death of his brother clergy Batsirai Java's late wife Vimbai Tsvangirai, who was the daughter of MDC founder Morgan Tsvangirai, Passion Java predicted her death two weeks prior.[15]

Ministry

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Passion Java started church ministry work at his brother's church Tabernacles of Grace before moving on to start his own church Kingdom Embassy. He started Kingdom Embassy as a prophet in 2010 at the Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex and grew to prominence when he was predicting phone numbers and ID numbers of audience members in services. In 2013 Java made headlines when he claimed to have performed a miracle abortion[clarification needed] on a four month pregnant woman.[16][17] In 2013 Java launched a satellite television channel for his church called Kingdom TV through ViewSat Limited, a UK telecommunications company, the television channel is now defunct due to unpaid fees reported to be around seven figures.[18] He became the youngest Zimbabwean ever to own a television channel at the age of 25.[19]

Java is said to be mentored by Noel Jones and Benny Hinn as his advisor.[20][21]

Involvement in music

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In 2015 Java launched music label called PJ Records where gospel artists would go and record music for free.[22][23] In 2017 Java started promoting Zimdancehall artists which include Enzo Ishall,[24] Soul Jah Love,[25] Buffalo Souljah,[26] Jah Master,[27] Roki[28] and several others through Passion Java Records. In 2020 Java launched Gara Mumba Iwe Series[29] where he provided a platform for artists to perform live on social media during the coronavirus pandemic.[30][31] In 2021 Java was named as the most influential Zimbabwean under 40.[32]

Involvement in Politics

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Ahead of the 2023 elections in Zimbabwe, Passion Java began to be involved in the political campaigns of ZANU PF, publicly endorsing Emmerson Mnangagwa in his bid for re-election.[33] He had been seen several times at the Zimbabwe State House with president Mnangagwa. In a collaboration between Roki the local artist and the famous Congolese musician Kofi Olomide in the song Patati Patata,[34] Passion Java persuaded or encouraged Kofi Olomide to mention the name of Mnangagwa in the song. Passion Java also joined the Affirmative Action Group (AAG) founded by Peter Pamire and Phillip Chiyangwa,[35] Passion Java is the incumbent vice president of the group. AAG is working with president Mnangagwa to promote the National Development Strategy, which is his 2023 political message for re-election.[33]

Controversy

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Passion Java has been criticized by the press and some Christian pastors for his flamboyant lifestyle, with journalists like Hopewell Chin'ono condemning his influence on social media[36] and his relationship with president Mnangagwa.[37] In 2021, Java was criticized for his gun possession and tattoos which he attributed to his love for the murderous Mnangagwa regime [38] after a video of him showing his gun collection went viral on social media.[39] He is a well known conman of repute. The public was warned by Zimbabwe Republic Police in August 2020.

He also courted controversy over a bar tab raised at a restaurant in Pretoria, South Africa which amounted to 1.3 million South African rand (over $85,000 USD), which later surfaced to be proceeds from the Covidgate scandal which rocked President Mnangagwa's family.[40]

Personal life

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Passion Java is married to Lily Java[41] and together they have three children. He has one child with his ex-wife Yasmin who he divorced in 2015 shortly after meeting Lily.[42][43]

References

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  1. ^ "Twabam Archives". Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Who is Passion Java? Zimbabwean 'prophet' behind R1.3m bar bill". The South African. 10 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Prophet Passion not stopping from hogging limelight". 5 February 2020. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Passion Java Causes Stir Among Fans During Drive to Bulawayo". 2 May 2021. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Passion Java and the adventures of a comic prophet". 13 March 2020. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Unmasking the Different Faces of Passion Java the Music Promoter". 19 July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Passion Java to launch 13 books". Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Passion Java Named AAG Vice President – Pindula News". Archived from the original on 18 February 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  9. ^ "I am a man of many talents: Passion Java". 24 April 2021. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Did You Know Passion Java's Real Name". 9 April 2020. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  11. ^ Staff Reporter (11 July 2020). "Passion Java Lifts Lid On Upbringing". Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Prophet Passion Java's mother dies". 3 January 2021. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Latest : Watch Passion Java Talking About His True Life Story". 18 November 2019. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  14. ^ Mutero, Taurai (18 November 2020). "WATCH: Prophet Passion Java speaks on his personal life, lifestyle, charity and more". Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  15. ^ "MDC-A Senator, Mum Speaks on Her Miracle Baby Prophet Passion Java". 21 February 2020. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Harare Pastor Performs Miracle Abortion". 22 February 2013. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Prophet performs 'miracle' abortion". 22 February 2013. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  18. ^ "Another gospel channel on the cards". Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  19. ^ "Passion Java Expands Kingdom TV". 9 April 2020. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  20. ^ "Bishop Noel Jones speaks about the gift in Prophet Passion Java (The Gift of Prophecy)". 20 November 2019. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  21. ^ "Watch : Prophet Passion and Benny Hinn - Correcting the Bible". 16 November 2019. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  22. ^ Herald, The. "Passion Java launches recording label". The Herald. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  23. ^ "Prophet opens studio to record gospel artists for free". 14 October 2014. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  24. ^ "Exclusive:ENZO ISHALL's Relationship with PASSION JAVA". 20 December 2019. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  25. ^ "Passion Java Records drops new Soul Jah Love song, Nyuchi". 12 March 2021. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  26. ^ "LATEST: Buffalo Souljah signs record deal with 'Mangoma prophet' Passion Java". 3 September 2019. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  27. ^ "Hello Mwari : Jah Master's collabo with Tanzanian star Haitham Kim an instant hit". 10 September 2020. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  28. ^ "Roki, Passion Java union raises stink". 17 July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  29. ^ "Prophet Passion Java's Lockdown Concert "Gara Mumba Iwe Season 2" Returns". 5 February 2021. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  30. ^ "Passion Java Records Presents: Gara Mumba Iwe 4th Edition". 27 May 2020. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  31. ^ News, Z. T. N. (21 May 2020). "Gara Mumba train gathers steam". Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  32. ^ "Passion Java tops list of 100 most influential Zimbabweans". 1 August 2021. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  33. ^ a b Muonwa, James (24 May 2021). "Zimbabwe: Passion Java Endorses Mnangagwa's 2023 Re-Election Bid". allAfrica.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  34. ^ M, Paidashe; ivengerei (12 August 2021). "Zimbabwe: 'Give Roki a Break' As Jonathan Moyo Rallies Behind Musician Over ED Lyrics". allAfrica.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  35. ^ "Affirmative Action Group". Pindula. 14 May 2021. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  36. ^ Chigundu, Daniel (28 June 2021). "Hopewell Chin'ono: Don't waste data watching Passion Java's videos -". Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  37. ^ "Na President Wangu: Passion Java, ED Mnangagwa video goes viral". 26 May 2021. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  38. ^ Mpofu, Muza (24 March 2021). "Passion Java torches storm, shows off shows off shocking tattoos on his chest and parades his guns which he later revealed was a show of force against the defenseless Zimbabweans | My Zimbabwe News". www.myzimbabwe.co.zw. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  39. ^ Kundai, Verenga (25 March 2021). "Prophet Passion Java Criticized For Gun Possession, Tattoos | Harare Live". Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  40. ^ https://capeverde.onlyhindinewstoday.com/master-kg-marks-the-passion-java-r1-3-million-bar-bill/
  41. ^ "passion java second wife name". choruscallindia.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  42. ^ "Happily divorced, says Passion Java as he returns to his United States base – Video | Celebs Now". 12 December 2020. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  43. ^ "Top 10 Things You Didn't Know About Prophet Passion Java". Youth Village Zimbabwe. 1 April 2016. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
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