Opinion / Columnist
Ivy Kombo and Admire Kasi's legal woes continue
26 Nov 2023 at 03:43hrs | Views
Ivy Kombo has been in the public eye for many years. She has embraced difficult experiences, problems and scandals as well as other trials and tribulations Zimbabwe's female musicians face. With her golden and priceless singing voice, Ivy Kombo has had a strong draw on the national gospel circuit for many years. Her singing would even cause ripples in the church to the extent that some non-worshippers began to attend church services just to hear her singing. It's impossible not to be moved by her vocals. She can sing from G2 to E6, - well over three octaves.
In case you don't know who I am talking about, below is a brief history of Ivy Kombo.
She was born on the 16th of April, 1975 at Harare Hospital. She grew up in Glen View where she attended primary school. Her secondary school was at St. John's Chikwaka.
While at St. John's Chikwaka, she became a member of her school choir and Scripture Union. After school she became a member of the late Reverend Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti's Pentecostal Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa (Zaoga) where she exposed her vocal skills.
Unfortunately, her father died when Ivy and her twin sister, Anne were only aged 13 years. This is when pastor Admire Kasingakore adopted them and started paying their school fees.
It is difficult to talk about Ivy's life without involving Kasi.
Kasi of Zaoga who adopted Ivy and her twin sister was also a businessman. He owned ADSA Real Estate, a company involved in the sale of properties in Zimbabwe. He was already married and had three children with his wife when the twins, Ivy and Anne, were adopted. Kasi's first wife was named Sarah. They were married for 25 years.
Ivy's twin sister, Anne Kombo, who was part of Ivy's singing team together with Carol Mujokoro got married to Wonder in 2022.
In 1993 a record label owned by music producer, Kasingakore known as Gospel Train released Ivy's first album titled Mufudzi Wangu. This was received with an overwhelming response. Year after year from 1993 to 1997, Ivy came up with more releases such as Ndinokudai Jesu, Vimbai na Jehovah, Kutenda and Revival Songs. In 1998 she released Ndaidziwanepi Nyasha. This was followed by another exciting album titled Hosana weKudenga. With yet another album titled Nyengetera, Ivy became a household name.
In 2001, she teamed up with the late Jackie Madondo and re-released Mufudzi Wangu. Her producer for all this material was Kasi who also arranged concerts with South African gospel artistes such as Vuyo Mokoena in a project called Nguva Yakwana. An album with the same title which did extremely well was also released. In 2002, yet another album, Denga Rinotaura was also released. It did very well.
The following year, Ivy received the National Arts Merit Award (NAMA) in the Best-Selling Gospel Artist category. She was encouraged to record Handidzokere Shure Volume 1 after this.
Despite this seemingly successful story, Ivy's star appeal began to fall after rumours spread like veldt fire that she was having an affair with her married foster father and music producer, Kasi. Not only did the rumours about her having an affair with Kasi spread, but it was also alleged that when Vuyo Mokoena, a South African gospel artiste came to Harare for the Nguva Yakwana concert, Ivy was also said to have had an affair with him.
To dispel the rumours of an affair between Kasi and his foster child, Ivy, it is also alleged that Kasi reluctantly arranged a wedding between a Midlands-based Reverend Edmore Moyo and Ivy Kombo.
Moyo was an engineering student at the Harare Polytechnic before he moved to the University of Zimbabwe's Bishop Gaul Seminary for Anglican priests and trained in Theology. He married Ivy Kombo in December 2001. The problems emerged early on with Kasi making non-stop calls to Ivy, which Moyo felt were too much even from a foster dad. When they got married Moyo said that his honeymoon with Ivy was a nightmare made in hell because it was spoiled by Kasi who kept calling Ivy now and then. He challenged Ivy on why she was taking so many calls from the supposed ‘foster dad' especially on their honeymoon. A heated argument broke out with Ivy telling Moyo that Pastor Kasi was jealous, a clear confession that something was going on between her and Pastor Kasi.
Despite marrying Reverend Edmore Moyo in December 2001, Ivy continued the affair with Pastor Kasi under the very nose of both Moyo and Kasi's own long-suffering wife, Sarah.
Rev Moyo says although he did not trust Pastor Kasi and knew he was after his wife, he somehow naively trusted Ivy to fend off those advances.
I witnessed the wedding between Ivy and Moyo in December, 2001 as they paraded along the streets of Harare in a horse-driven carriage. This blissful wedding seemed to have brought cheers and joy among the onlookers judging by the crowds that waved their hands and threw flowers at them.
However, despite the wedding between Moyo and Ivy, the affair between Ivy and Kasi continued unabated.
The following year, in 2002, after the wedding between Ivy and Moyo, another scam took place. Kasi and Ivy, through ADSA Real Estate, were said to have sold houses and stands that were already occupied in Bluff Hill, Harare and giving the buyers false documents of ownership. When they were exposed and the people wanted their money back, they ran to the United Kingdom where they started a ministry and stayed for 10 years before coming back to Zimbabwe.
In 2013, the couple shared that they graduated with law degrees from the University of Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom. To practise law in Zimbabwe, they had to get a certificate from the Council for Legal Education (CLE) after a test.
Upon successfully earning a law degree and fulfilling the requisite period of supervised legal work, all lawyers are typically sworn in as officers of the High Court. This status allows them to practise law independently, without supervision, and involves taking a dual oath affirming their loyalty to Zimbabwe and their commitment to their office.
Ivy and her husband, Kasi looked for a shortcut into practising law in Zimbabwe without taking the requisite conversion examinations.
Ivy Kombo is then said to have allegedly approached Shorai Tafadzwa Mupunga, an official with the Council for Legal Education (CLE) for help to register without writing the conversion examinations. Shorai told her she would talk to Huggins Duri, the CLE secretary, then.
It is claimed that Duri told Mupunga that he would give the couple the certificates without the examination if Ivy and Admire paid him US$1,100. The couple gave the money to Mupunga, who gave it to Duri, and the certificates were fraudulently processed. The conversion certificates stated that Ivy and Admire had written and passed eight subjects. These subjects were Common Law 1 and Common Law 2. Civil Law Practice duties, Civil Practice and Procedure, Statute Law, Bookkeeping, Evidence and Ethics for Legal Practitioners. Duri is the one who allegedly handed the certificates to Ivy Kombo and Admire Kasi.
Earlier this year, the couple was among the 12 lawyers who gained admission to the High Court, utilising certificates that had been deceptively obtained with the assistance of a suspended official from the Council for Legal Education.
The couple appeared in the Magistrates' court to address allegations of fraud and perjury and were released on US$300 bail each. Their apprehension was carried out by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission's investigative team.
The couple will report once every two weeks at Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission offices and were ordered to surrender their passports as they were considered to be flight risks. Their trial, combined with evidence, will be instrumental in ensuring that both Pastor Kasi and Ivy Kombo will face the consequences of their actions.
For Ivy Kombo and Pastor Admire Kasingakore, life is a never-ending stream of problems that must be confronted, surmounted, and/or solved as it has been one scandal after another. The sight of these two is a poignant reminder of the unpredictable turns life could take.
It takes an incredible person, whether rich or poor to pick themselves up when misfortune falls.
I am beginning to wonder what's in store ahead for Pastor Kasi and Ivy Kombo.
Feedback: frezindi@gmail.com
In case you don't know who I am talking about, below is a brief history of Ivy Kombo.
She was born on the 16th of April, 1975 at Harare Hospital. She grew up in Glen View where she attended primary school. Her secondary school was at St. John's Chikwaka.
While at St. John's Chikwaka, she became a member of her school choir and Scripture Union. After school she became a member of the late Reverend Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti's Pentecostal Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa (Zaoga) where she exposed her vocal skills.
Unfortunately, her father died when Ivy and her twin sister, Anne were only aged 13 years. This is when pastor Admire Kasingakore adopted them and started paying their school fees.
It is difficult to talk about Ivy's life without involving Kasi.
Kasi of Zaoga who adopted Ivy and her twin sister was also a businessman. He owned ADSA Real Estate, a company involved in the sale of properties in Zimbabwe. He was already married and had three children with his wife when the twins, Ivy and Anne, were adopted. Kasi's first wife was named Sarah. They were married for 25 years.
Ivy's twin sister, Anne Kombo, who was part of Ivy's singing team together with Carol Mujokoro got married to Wonder in 2022.
In 1993 a record label owned by music producer, Kasingakore known as Gospel Train released Ivy's first album titled Mufudzi Wangu. This was received with an overwhelming response. Year after year from 1993 to 1997, Ivy came up with more releases such as Ndinokudai Jesu, Vimbai na Jehovah, Kutenda and Revival Songs. In 1998 she released Ndaidziwanepi Nyasha. This was followed by another exciting album titled Hosana weKudenga. With yet another album titled Nyengetera, Ivy became a household name.
In 2001, she teamed up with the late Jackie Madondo and re-released Mufudzi Wangu. Her producer for all this material was Kasi who also arranged concerts with South African gospel artistes such as Vuyo Mokoena in a project called Nguva Yakwana. An album with the same title which did extremely well was also released. In 2002, yet another album, Denga Rinotaura was also released. It did very well.
The following year, Ivy received the National Arts Merit Award (NAMA) in the Best-Selling Gospel Artist category. She was encouraged to record Handidzokere Shure Volume 1 after this.
Despite this seemingly successful story, Ivy's star appeal began to fall after rumours spread like veldt fire that she was having an affair with her married foster father and music producer, Kasi. Not only did the rumours about her having an affair with Kasi spread, but it was also alleged that when Vuyo Mokoena, a South African gospel artiste came to Harare for the Nguva Yakwana concert, Ivy was also said to have had an affair with him.
To dispel the rumours of an affair between Kasi and his foster child, Ivy, it is also alleged that Kasi reluctantly arranged a wedding between a Midlands-based Reverend Edmore Moyo and Ivy Kombo.
Moyo was an engineering student at the Harare Polytechnic before he moved to the University of Zimbabwe's Bishop Gaul Seminary for Anglican priests and trained in Theology. He married Ivy Kombo in December 2001. The problems emerged early on with Kasi making non-stop calls to Ivy, which Moyo felt were too much even from a foster dad. When they got married Moyo said that his honeymoon with Ivy was a nightmare made in hell because it was spoiled by Kasi who kept calling Ivy now and then. He challenged Ivy on why she was taking so many calls from the supposed ‘foster dad' especially on their honeymoon. A heated argument broke out with Ivy telling Moyo that Pastor Kasi was jealous, a clear confession that something was going on between her and Pastor Kasi.
Despite marrying Reverend Edmore Moyo in December 2001, Ivy continued the affair with Pastor Kasi under the very nose of both Moyo and Kasi's own long-suffering wife, Sarah.
Rev Moyo says although he did not trust Pastor Kasi and knew he was after his wife, he somehow naively trusted Ivy to fend off those advances.
I witnessed the wedding between Ivy and Moyo in December, 2001 as they paraded along the streets of Harare in a horse-driven carriage. This blissful wedding seemed to have brought cheers and joy among the onlookers judging by the crowds that waved their hands and threw flowers at them.
However, despite the wedding between Moyo and Ivy, the affair between Ivy and Kasi continued unabated.
The following year, in 2002, after the wedding between Ivy and Moyo, another scam took place. Kasi and Ivy, through ADSA Real Estate, were said to have sold houses and stands that were already occupied in Bluff Hill, Harare and giving the buyers false documents of ownership. When they were exposed and the people wanted their money back, they ran to the United Kingdom where they started a ministry and stayed for 10 years before coming back to Zimbabwe.
In 2013, the couple shared that they graduated with law degrees from the University of Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom. To practise law in Zimbabwe, they had to get a certificate from the Council for Legal Education (CLE) after a test.
Upon successfully earning a law degree and fulfilling the requisite period of supervised legal work, all lawyers are typically sworn in as officers of the High Court. This status allows them to practise law independently, without supervision, and involves taking a dual oath affirming their loyalty to Zimbabwe and their commitment to their office.
Ivy and her husband, Kasi looked for a shortcut into practising law in Zimbabwe without taking the requisite conversion examinations.
Ivy Kombo is then said to have allegedly approached Shorai Tafadzwa Mupunga, an official with the Council for Legal Education (CLE) for help to register without writing the conversion examinations. Shorai told her she would talk to Huggins Duri, the CLE secretary, then.
It is claimed that Duri told Mupunga that he would give the couple the certificates without the examination if Ivy and Admire paid him US$1,100. The couple gave the money to Mupunga, who gave it to Duri, and the certificates were fraudulently processed. The conversion certificates stated that Ivy and Admire had written and passed eight subjects. These subjects were Common Law 1 and Common Law 2. Civil Law Practice duties, Civil Practice and Procedure, Statute Law, Bookkeeping, Evidence and Ethics for Legal Practitioners. Duri is the one who allegedly handed the certificates to Ivy Kombo and Admire Kasi.
Earlier this year, the couple was among the 12 lawyers who gained admission to the High Court, utilising certificates that had been deceptively obtained with the assistance of a suspended official from the Council for Legal Education.
The couple appeared in the Magistrates' court to address allegations of fraud and perjury and were released on US$300 bail each. Their apprehension was carried out by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission's investigative team.
The couple will report once every two weeks at Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission offices and were ordered to surrender their passports as they were considered to be flight risks. Their trial, combined with evidence, will be instrumental in ensuring that both Pastor Kasi and Ivy Kombo will face the consequences of their actions.
For Ivy Kombo and Pastor Admire Kasingakore, life is a never-ending stream of problems that must be confronted, surmounted, and/or solved as it has been one scandal after another. The sight of these two is a poignant reminder of the unpredictable turns life could take.
It takes an incredible person, whether rich or poor to pick themselves up when misfortune falls.
I am beginning to wonder what's in store ahead for Pastor Kasi and Ivy Kombo.
Feedback: frezindi@gmail.com
Source - the standard
All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
