Questions emerge over intimidation, media rivalry and who had the authority to control funeral coverage after family spokesperson Herbert Chivhayo reportedly welcomed all journalists.
By Princess Eugene Majuru
Editor-in-Chief, News of The South
The funeral of Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivhayo has become the centre of a disturbing media controversy following allegations that journalist and TechMagTv Editor-in-Chief Toneo Toneo was physically assaulted by security personnel allegedly acting on the instructions of Joachim Chivhayo, popularly known as G6, a brother of the deceased.
The alleged attack, said to have occurred on Thursday, 8 October 2026, has raised serious questions about the treatment of journalists, the conduct of private security personnel, media freedom and the apparent contradiction between the welcoming approach of family spokesperson Herbert Chivhayo and the alleged actions of G6.
At the centre of the controversy is a fundamental question: Why should journalists covering the same public event be subjected to intimidation or violence when the media space is large enough to accommodate everyone?
According to a statement issued by Toneo, the confrontation began at the Chivhayo family residence, where he and his crew had arrived to continue their coverage of the funeral proceedings.
Toneo said he had approached Herbert Chivhayo, the family spokesperson, requesting an update on the funeral programme. Rather than providing an exclusive interview, Herbert reportedly suggested addressing journalists from several media organisations simultaneously.
Acting on that suggestion, Toneo contacted colleagues from The Herald, ZBC, journalist Owen Madondo, popularly known as DJ Ollah, and other media practitioners to attend the briefing.
What should have been a demonstration of professional cooperation allegedly became the beginning of a confrontation.
G6 Allegedly Orders Journalist to Stop Filming
In his statement, Toneo alleges that DJ Ollah called him aside while his crew was preparing for the press conference and led him to Joachim Chivhayo, known as G6. According to Toneo, G6 immediately challenged his presence and ordered him to stop recording, reportedly arguing that he had not personally authorised his coverage.
Toneo explained that he had been reporting on the story since the helicopter crash, including providing live updates from the crash scene and subsequent coverage at the family residence.
However, G6 allegedly remained adamant that the journalist and his crew should put down their cameras.
The disagreement raises important questions about the authority to regulate media access at a family funeral, particularly where the appointed family spokesperson had reportedly already authorised the coverage.
Private family events may legitimately have access restrictions, and journalists have a responsibility to respect reasonable arrangements. However, those arrangements must be communicated clearly and enforced lawfully. A disagreement over permission to film cannot justify physical intimidation or assault.
Herbert Chivhayo Reportedly Overrules Attempts to Stop Media Coverage
One of the most significant aspects of Toneo’s account is the reported intervention by Herbert Chivhayo. After being instructed to stop filming, Toneo said he approached Herbert to explain that he would no longer participate in the press conference he had helped organise.
Herbert reportedly rejected the suggestion that the journalist should be excluded. According to Toneo, Herbert maintained that authority and clearance came from him and instructed that the press conference should proceed without interference.
He reportedly emphasised that no media organisation should be stopped or disturbed.
This account presents Herbert as a voice of reason during an increasingly tense situation.
Throughout the funeral proceedings, Herbert’s public communication has attracted positive commentary from people who have praised his composure, measured speeches, clarity of expression and apparent ability to handle difficult circumstances with dignity.
His approach, as described by Toneo, demonstrates an understanding that media coverage should not be treated as a competition in which one journalist’s presence threatens another. Rather than favouring individual journalists, Herbert reportedly sought to ensure that information was made available to all media houses.
Such an approach promotes transparency, reduces unnecessary rivalry and allows the public to receive information through different platforms.
At a time when the Chivhayo family was dealing with profound grief, Herbert’s reported insistence on orderly and inclusive communication stands in sharp contrast to the confrontation described in the journalist’s statement.
Journalist Alleges Violent Attack Along Gletwin Road
The situation allegedly escalated after the journalists left the family residence and travelled to the funeral parlour to accompany the procession collecting the bodies.
Toneo claims that while his crew was broadcasting live near the hearse along Gletwin Road, G6 shouted from his vehicle:
“So you guys mune nharo ka imi, I want to show you something.”
According to the journalist, a white SUV carrying security personnel subsequently blocked his vehicle.
Three men allegedly emerged from the SUV and attacked him while he was in the driver’s seat, punching and slapping him before returning to their vehicle and driving away.
Toneo estimates that the assault lasted approximately 20 seconds.
He alleges that the incident was witnessed by people travelling in the funeral convoy.
The journalist reported sustaining injuries, including loosened lower teeth, a swollen eye and severe jaw pain.
He says he filed a police report at Highlands Police Station under reference RRB 6847154 and is pursuing legal action.
These remain allegations contained in Toneo’s statement. The police report, injuries and circumstances of the incident have not been independently verified by News of The South for this article. No finding of criminal responsibility has been established, and G6 and the security personnel concerned must be afforded an opportunity to respond.
What Causes Such Behaviour Towards Journalists?
The alleged incident raises broader concerns about power, entitlement, professional rivalry and the growing tendency to treat access to prominent individuals as a privilege controlled by a select few.
There are several possible explanations for confrontational behaviour around high-profile events, although none can be established as the motive in this particular case without further evidence.
One is the desire to control information.
When a major event attracts national attention, those close to the central figures may seek to determine who records, interviews or broadcasts proceedings. This can create unnecessary conflict when journalists are perceived as intruding into territory that others believe they control. Another possibility is competition for visibility.
Digital journalism has transformed the media landscape. Television broadcasters, online news organisations, independent journalists and content creators increasingly compete for audiences, breaking news and exclusive footage.
However, competition should encourage better journalism, not intimidation. The presence of one journalist does not diminish another’s right to report. No journalist owns a public-interest story simply because they arrived first, have personal connections with the family or enjoy a larger social media following.
The media space is large enough for everyone, provided journalists operate ethically, lawfully and with respect for those involved. A third concern is the misuse of perceived authority. Being related to a prominent person, managing security arrangements or enjoying privileged access to an event does not place anyone above the law.
Security personnel have a legitimate role in protecting people, maintaining order and preventing genuine threats. They are not supposed to become instruments of punishment against journalists who disagree with an instruction.
If the alleged assault occurred as described, it would represent a serious departure from legitimate security responsibilities.
DJ Ollah’s Alleged Involvement Raises Further Questions
Toneo’s statement also introduces a sensitive issue concerning the role of fellow journalist DJ Ollah. According to Toneo, it was DJ Ollah who called him aside and led him to G6 before the initial confrontation. However, this allegation alone does not establish that DJ Ollah knew an assault would occur, supported the alleged violence or participated in any plan to attack Toneo. That distinction is important. Nevertheless, the circumstances raise questions that deserve clarification.
Why was Toneo taken to G6 rather than being allowed to resolve any concerns directly with the family spokesperson? Was DJ Ollah simply conveying a request, or was there a wider disagreement over media access? These questions should be answered through evidence and responses from those involved rather than speculation.
Journalists have a professional responsibility to support one another’s right to work safely, even when they compete for the same audience. Media rivalry should never be allowed to develop into hostility that endangers colleagues.
Herbert Chivhayo’s Leadership Offers a Different Example
While the alleged assault has attracted concern, Herbert Chivhayo’s reported conduct offers an important lesson in leadership and crisis communication. Funerals involving prominent public figures can become difficult environments to manage. Large crowds, emotional family members, security teams, political personalities and competing media organisations create considerable pressure. It takes composure to maintain order under such circumstances.
Herbert’s reported decision to address all journalists together was sensible because it reduced the possibility of conflicting information and unnecessary competition for individual interviews.
His insistence that journalists should not be disturbed, if accurately reported, also demonstrated respect for the media’s role. The positive reactions to his speeches and funeral updates suggest that many observers have appreciated his manner of communication.
Leadership is not demonstrated through shouting, intimidation or the display of force. It is demonstrated through sound judgement, fairness, discipline and the ability to resolve disagreements without unnecessary confrontation. Herbert’s reported approach illustrates how a family spokesperson can protect the dignity of a funeral while maintaining constructive relations with journalists.
It also raises a question for the Chivhayo family: If the spokesperson had authorised the media to cover the proceedings, why was another family member allegedly attempting to impose a conflicting decision? The family may have internal arrangements that have not been made public, but contradictory instructions to journalists can create confusion and increase the risk of confrontation.
An Attack on One Journalist Concerns the Entire Media Fraternity
The implications of this incident extend beyond Toneo and TechMagTv. Journalists regularly work in emotionally charged and potentially dangerous environments, including crime scenes, political gatherings, demonstrations, funerals and major public events. Their safety should not depend on their popularity, personal relationships or the approval of powerful individuals.
The right to report carries responsibilities, including respecting privacy, avoiding interference with investigations and observing lawful restrictions. However, no breach of a filming arrangement should be answered with violence.
Where disputes arise, organisers can ask journalists to leave restricted areas, clarify accreditation arrangements or seek lawful assistance from the relevant authorities. Physical attacks have no place in resolving editorial or access disagreements.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police should investigate Toneo’s complaint impartially, seek accounts from witnesses, examine any available footage and determine whether criminal offences were committed.
The alleged involvement of private security personnel makes it particularly important to establish who gave any instructions, what those instructions were and whether the individuals acted independently.
The Funeral Should Have Been About Respect, Not Intimidation
The funeral was an occasion for the Chivhayo family, friends and mourners to pay their final respects. It should not have become a setting in which a journalist feared for his safety while carrying out professional duties. What if the attack had led to another funeral? The security should be able to think before they act, when we look at the issue we see there was no need to attack.
The contrast between Herbert Chivhayo’s reported inclusive approach and the conduct alleged against G6 and his security personnel is striking. One approach seeks cooperation, transparency and order. The other, if the allegations are substantiated, reflects intimidation and an unacceptable resort to force.
The media fraternity should reject any culture in which journalists are threatened because of competition, personal disagreements or perceived differences in status. The public benefits when multiple independent media organisations can report responsibly, rather than when access is controlled through fear.
Ultimately, this controversy requires more than social media condemnation. It requires a fair investigation, an opportunity for all parties to be heard and accountability wherever wrongdoing is established.
Herbert Chivhayo’s reported words that no media should be stopped or disturbed offer an important principle for future high-profile events. Journalism is not a privilege granted by the powerful. It is a public responsibility exercised within the law. No journalist should have to choose between personal safety and the duty to inform the nation.
News of The South welcomes responses from Joachim Chivhayo, DJ Ollah, the Chivhayo family and the relevant authorities concerning the allegations raised in Toneo Toneo’s statement
Comments
About Author
