Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
THE nation is still reeling from the horrific accident at Manyame Bridge, near St Mary’s Police Station in Chitungwiza, on Tuesday. The tragic incident claimed a staggering 17 lives and left four others injured, leading President Mnangagwa to declare it a national disaster. Amid the heartbreak, one individual’s actions sparked both condemnation and commendation — DJ Ollah 7, real name Owen Madondo. While he initially faced public outcry for interviewing an injured survivor in hospital, his swift and decisive actions as a first responder at the crash scene paint a picture of true heroism.
DJ Ollah 7 found himself at the epicentre of the tragedy purely by chance.
“I was on my way to work, using the same road, when I saw the crash. I noticed a haulage truck had overturned, but I didn’t initially realise there were people trapped beneath it. As I got closer to investigate, I could hear voices — people screaming — and I heard two young voices crying out in agony as the truck weighed heavily on them,” he recounted.
His immediate response wasn’t to film or sensationalise, but to act.
“Rescue teams were already at the scene, but they couldn’t do much as the truck was still on top of the victims. I instinctively knew we needed a crane to lift the truck and rescue any survivors. So, I turned to my Facebook page to spread the message about the urgent need for a crane and to warn other motorists using the same road.”
This quick thinking, leveraging his platform for immediate action rather than mere reporting, undeniably saved crucial time in a desperate situation. Tragically, despite his efforts, some voices fell silent before help could fully arrive. “The voices I heard eventually went silent, and at that moment, I knew they were gone — this was before six cranes arrived to lift the truck,” he lamented.
Ollah’s heroic efforts were, however, overshadowed for a time by a subsequent decision that drew widespread criticism. He interviewed Nyasha Tanganyika, a survivor from the commuter omnibus, who was visibly in pain in hospital. The public swiftly condemned this as inhumane, raising questions about journalistic ethics in sensitive situations.
Defending his actions, Ollah 7 said: “People don’t really understand how journalism works. We need the story because everyone is asking, ‘Why?’ — and the only person with answers is the survivor. In this case, the woman, though in pain, was stable, and I obtained permission to interview her. Sadly, at that point, she didn’t know her husband and daughter had already passed away. She was crying not from physical pain, but from the fear of losing her daughter.”
While his explanation sheds light on his intent to inform, it also highlights the tigh trope journalists walk when balancing the public’s right to know with the dignity and well-being of victims.
Beyond the immediate accident, the harrowing incident continues to haunt DJ Ollah 7.
“I’ve never seen anything like that. On Monday night, I couldn’t even eat — I was traumatised by what I had witnessed. It was terrifying, but I’m glad that, as a journalist, I fulfilled my duty to inform the public in real time.
Still, it’s difficult to process such scenes. When you get home, the images just keep replaying in your mind,” he shared, revealing the profound emotional toll such events take even on those reporting them.
In a display of compassion, DJ Ollah 7 also took time out of his busy schedule to pray for the truck driver involved in the accident, revealing a more empathetic side that many may not have seen before. — Follow on X @MbuleloMpofu
