The Zimbabwe Online Content Creators (ZOCC) has reported podcaster Owen Madondo, popularly known as Ollah7, to the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) over allegations that he obstructed journalists covering businessman Wicknell Chivayo's funeral. ZOCC claims that Madondo instructed security personnel to remove or deny access to accredited journalists and independent digital publishers.
According to ZOCC, Madondo's actions were "highly unprofessional and obstructive," and represented a calculated attempt to monopolize coverage of a nationally significant funeral. The association received complaints from affected media practitioners and approached Chivayo family spokesperson Herbert Chivayo, who denied that the family had imposed a blanket restriction on the press.
Herbert Chivayo stated that journalists and content creators were welcome at the proceedings, and that the family had not imposed any restrictions on media coverage. However, ZOCC argues that the alleged obstruction was especially serious because Chivayo had been accorded provincial hero status and the funeral involved government officials and other prominent public figures.
ZOCC has urged the ZMC to investigate the claims and establish whether journalists were improperly prevented from working and who authorized any restrictions. The association also called on funeral coordinators, security personnel, and media stakeholders to provide an open working environment for traditional journalists and independent online publishers.
Madondo has responded to the allegations, stating that he was appointed by the Chivayo family as their official media partner to cover the funeral. He explained that his presence at the family home was professional rather than personal, and that he had been working from 9 pm every day to cover the mourning proceedings.
Madondo's platforms have carried extensive coverage of the funeral, including livestreams, interviews, and regular updates. According to figures he shared from his Facebook analytics, his content accumulated 164 million views and 25 million engagements over 28 days, with his DJ Ollah7 page gaining 102,604 followers.
The dispute follows Chivayo's death alongside his wife, Lucy Muteke, and others in a helicopter crash on September 30. President Emmerson Mnangagwa confirmed Chivayo's death the following day, while police and aviation officials launched investigations into the cause of the crash.
Key points
- ZOCC reports Ollah7 to ZMC over alleged media blockade at Wicknell Chivayo's funeral.
- Madondo claims he was appointed as the Chivayo family's official media partner.
- The funeral has attracted intense public attention and generated substantial traffic for Madondo's platforms.
