The Zimbabwe Online Content Creators (ZOCC) wishes to officially express its profound disappointment following multiple formal complaints lodged with our Information Desk regarding the highly unprofessional and obstructive conduct of digital practitioner and podcaster, Owen Madondo, commercially known as Ollah7.
According to reports received, Mr. Madondo has been actively instructing security personnel to summarily dismiss and bar accredited journalists and independent online content creators from accessing and covering the funeral proceedings of the late Wicknell Chivayo. These reports indicate that access is being restricted exclusively to his personal production crew and select state media outlets.
ZOCC condemns these actions in the strongest possible terms. This conduct represents a calculated, anti-competitive, and archaic strategy designed to monopolise coverage of a public interest event. Such gatekeeping tactics unfairly disadvantage independent online media players and undermine the collective advancement of the digital broadcasting sector in Zimbabwe.
Following the formal complaints submitted to our office, ZOCC directly engaged the Chivayo family spokesperson, Mr. Herbert Chivayo, to seek definitive clarity regarding media access. Mr. Chivayo explicitly stated that all journalists and content creators are welcome and formally invited to provide unrestricted coverage of the funeral proceedings.
Furthermore, it must be noted that the late Wicknell Chivayo was officially accorded Provincial Hero status by the State. This official designation elevates him to a prominent public figure whose send-off constitutes an event of compelling national interest.
Consequently, any attempt by private individuals to restrict press coverage is not only a direct violation of media freedom but also an obstruction of a matter of public interest.
The media serves as an indispensable pillar of a democratic society. Its core mandate is to guarantee the public’s right to information, foster transparency, and provide an inclusive platform for diverse national narratives. Restricting media practitioners from executing this public duty directly impedes these foundational democratic processes.
Furthermore, Mr. Madondo’s actions directly contravene the supreme law of the land. Section 61 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) explicitly guarantees Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Media. Specifically, Section 61(1)(a) protects the “freedom to seek, receive and communicate ideas and other information,”while Section 61(2) affirms that “every person is entitled to freedom of the media.” No individual media practitioner or private entity possesses the legal or administrative authority to abridge or usurp the constitutional rights of fellow professionals.
Regulatory Escalation and Directives
ZOCC will not tolerate actions that compromise media pluralism or reverse the milestones achieved in democratising Zimbabwe’s digital media landscape.
Consequently, the association has instituted the following measures:
1. ZOCC hereby issues a formal warning to Mr. Owen Madondo (Ollah7) to immediately cease and desist from interfering with, intimidating, or obstructing any journalist or digital content creator from performing their professional duties.
2. ZOCC has filed a formal complaint against Mr. Madondo with the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC). As the statutory body constitutionally mandated under Section 249 to uphold media freedoms and enforce professional ethics, we have requested an expedited investigation into this conduct and the application of appropriate regulatory sanctions.
We call upon all event coordinators, security personnel, and media stakeholders to respect the constitutional protections granted to the press. The growth of our digital economy relies heavily on an open, collaborative, and legally compliant media environment.
