DJ Ollah 7 has responded to mounting public criticism following his controversial podcast episode featuring socialite Mai Jeremaya, stating that “podcasts are not traditional media” and should not be judged by legacy media standards.
The backlash erupted after a two-hour episode in which Mai Jeremaya revisited previously dismissed rape allegations and discussed explicit topics, including her sexual history, infidelity, and receiving money from men outside her marriage.
Critics slammed the interview for its lack of editorial responsibility, accusing Ollah of exploiting sensitive issues for views. Others raised concern about the absence of age restrictions, the violation of ethical journalism standards, and the retraumatization of alleged survivors despite the court dismissing the claims.
But Ollah defended the episode by saying, “Podcasts are not traditional media. We are having real conversations that some people are too uncomfortable to admit are happening in real life.”
He further implied that podcasting allows for “raw, unfiltered storytelling”, unlike broadcast media which is often constrained by editorial policies and regulatory bodies.
As Zimbabwe’s podcast scene rapidly grows, this controversy has sparked national debate about accountability in new media, and whether content creators should be held to the same journalistic standards as traditional platforms.
