Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has defended DJ Ollah following criticism from Zimbabweans on social media. Some users questioned why DJ Ollah continued posting coverage of Wicknell Chivayo’s funeral. They also urged him to “go home” instead of continuing his updates.
However, Chin’ono said the criticism showed a misunderstanding of modern journalism. He praised DJ Ollah’s coverage and described it as professionally impressive.
Chin’ono Explains How Scheduled Media Posts Work
Chin’ono explained that journalists often prepare content before publishing it online. He said media organisations can record footage, edit material and schedule posts for later.
Therefore, an active social media page does not always mean the journalist is working.
“DJ Ollah may well be at home right now,” Chin’ono said.
He explained that scheduled content can continue appearing throughout the day. Chin’ono also shared his personal experience with scheduled posts. He said some posts appearing online may have been prepared several days earlier.
He also schedules posts for different audiences across international time zones. Consequently, a post appearing at 3 p.m. in New York may publish while Zimbabwe sleeps. Chin’ono said people should understand these processes before criticising journalists.
DJ Ollah has been outstanding. As a senior journalist, I have watched his coverage of Wicknell Chivayo’s funeral with genuine professional admiration.
It has also exposed how little many people on social media understand about how the media works. I have seen people telling DJ Ollah to go home, as if he has not been home. What they fail to grasp is that journalists and media organisations routinely gather footage, edit it and schedule it for publication later.
I see the same misunderstanding among my own friends and family. They say, “You are not answering my calls, but you are posting online,” as if I am deliberately ignoring them.
The truth is that some of what I publish today may have been prepared days earlier and scheduled to go out on Friday at 8 a.m., while I am in the air on a flight.Sometimes I can schedule posts for 4 a.m. People see them and assume I am awake, when I am fast asleep. I have a significant American audience, so I time posts about the United States to reach readers there at the right hour. It may be 3 p.m. in New York while Zimbabwe is asleep. That does not mean I am awake too.
DJ Ollah may well be at home right now, yet his page will keep updating because the content has been scheduled. That is simply how the media works.
There is also a young ZBC journalist who covered the helicopter crash in Marondera from the moment it happened. I will find out his name, because he deserves a post of his own. He is a brilliant young reporter with a bright future, and I can see him one day working in broadcasting houses in Europe, America or South Africa at the very least.
We should also understand that journalists sometimes ask questions under intense pressure. People may analyse a question afterwards and say it should not have been asked, but they have the luxury of considering it from the comfort of their own homes. The journalist is working in a pressure-cooker environment, speaking to different people and trying to gather the information we need.
Sometimes journalists make mistakes. That is part of working under pressure. Nurses, drivers, doctors, and people in every profession can make small mistakes too. So please do not be too hard on journalists. Be kind to them. They are giving us information without charging us for it; the only cost to us is the data we use to access it.
Dr Joshua Nkomo, Father Zimbabwe, reminded us that rulers will come and go, but Zimbabwe will never go, because our children will inherit it. I feel the same way about our profession. These journalists work under extremely difficult conditions, at times they are insulted by the very people who consume their work without paying a single cent. Imagine telling the person keeping you informed, “Why do you keep posting? Go home.”
Sometimes our people are hard to understand.
A shout-out to every journalist who has kept us informed, and to ZimLive on Twitter for its strong coverage and for breaking the story of this accident. Thank you for your work.
— Hopewell Chin’ono (@daddyhope) October 6, 2026
Chin’ono Calls for Greater Respect for Journalists
The journalist also defended reporters working under intense pressure. He highlighted a young ZBC journalist who covered the Marondera helicopter crash. Chin’ono described the reporter as talented and destined for a bright future.
He also acknowledged that journalists can sometimes make mistakes under pressure. However, he compared journalism with other demanding professions. Doctors, nurses and drivers can also make mistakes while performing their duties.
Therefore, Chin’ono urged the public to show journalists greater understanding. He said journalists provide valuable information, often without charging audiences directly. Chin’ono also praised ZimLive for its coverage and breaking the accident story.
He ended by thanking journalists who continue informing Zimbabweans despite difficult working conditions. His message highlighted the pressure journalists face while reporting major national events. It also challenged audiences to understand what happens behind the social media posts they consume.
The post ‘Be kind’: Hopewell Chin’ono defends DJ Ollah appeared first on iHarare News.
