DJ Ollah 7 Walks Free After Cyberbullying Case is Dropped by Zimbabwe’s NPAZ

On Monday afternoon, DJ Ollah 7, a well-known media personality and podcaster, was cleared of all charges after the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) decided not to proceed with a cyberbullying and harassment case against him. The case stemmed from controversial remarks made by rapper Holy Ten during an appearance on Ollah’s podcast, which allegedly targeted fellow Zimbabwean artist Mudiwa Hood.

The NPAZ’s decision was based on the assertion that Ollah, as the host of the podcast, was not responsible for the inflammatory statements made by his guest. In their official statement, the NPAZ emphasized that Ollah lacked any intent to harass or bully Mudiwa, as the comments were made live during the broadcast by Holy Ten. Furthermore, they clarified that Ollah was not accountable for the words of his guest, who made the statements in question.

The controversy began on Saturday when Ollah was arrested following complaints about Holy Ten’s remarks, which were seen as harmful and humiliating. Although Mudiwa Hood expressed a desire to withdraw the charges, the NPAZ asserted that it was ultimately up to the Prosecutor General to decide whether to drop the case, according to their guidelines.

Despite rumors circulating on social media that Ollah had posted an apology while in police custody, his legal team, led by Dumisani Mthombeni, vehemently denied these claims. Mthombeni clarified that Ollah had not had access to his social media accounts and had not authorized any apology to be shared. The purported apology, which included apologies to Mudiwa Hood and other public figures allegedly affected by the podcast’s content, was deemed false by Ollah’s representatives.

In the wake of the NPAZ’s decision, DJ Ollah 7 can now put the case behind him, although the incident has sparked ongoing discussions about the responsibilities of podcast hosts when it comes to managing the content shared by their guests.