LUSAKA - Media personality and clergyman Jimmy Kumwenda, popularly known as Pastor Jimmy Kay, has been sued in the High Court by a businessman seeking millions in damages over the proceeds from last year's Fally Ipupa concerts.
Businessman Enock Mashilipa is demanding a refund of US$20,000, more than K30,000 allegedly spent on logistics, and K10 million, which he claims is his rightful share of the profits generated from the concerts.
According to court documents, Mr. Mashilipa alleges that Pastor Jimmy Kay approached him in February 2025 seeking urgent financial assistance to secure performances by Congolese music star Fally Ipupa at Ciela Resort and Polo Fields.
Mr. Mashilipa claims he agreed to finance the concerts after being informed that the US$20,000 was required to reserve the performance dates before Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) came on board as the main sponsor.
To safeguard his investment, he said he paid the money directly to Fally Ipupa's promoters instead of handing it to Pastor Jimmy Kay.
According to the lawsuit, the parties agreed that profits from ticket sales and vendor fees would be shared equally.
Mr. Mashilipa further claims that a WhatsApp group for financiers was created, where he participated in planning meetings and believed the project was being managed transparently.
However, he alleges that Pastor Jimmy Kay later entered into a separate agreement with businessman Isaac Ilunga, granting him an equal share of the profits without his knowledge or consent.
The businessman also claims he contributed more than K30,000 towards logistics and was later forced to purchase tickets for himself, his wife and friends to attend the concerts despite being one of the financiers.
According to the court action, after the concerts concluded, Mr. Mashilipa requested financial statements and his share of the proceeds. Instead, he alleges that Pastor Jimmy Kay removed him from the financiers' WhatsApp group, blocked his phone numbers and excluded him from further discussions.
The lawsuit states that the defendants later informed him that the concerts had made a loss and that there were no profits to distribute.
Unconvinced by that explanation, Mr. Mashilipa is asking the High Court to order Pastor Jimmy Kay and Isaac Ilunga to refund the US$20,000, reimburse the K30,000 allegedly spent on logistics, pay K10 million in claimed profits, together with interest and any other relief the court may deem appropriate.
The matter is now before the High Court for determination.
Source: Kalemba