TOURISM Minister Walter Mzembi’s brand ambassador Thomas Chizhanje has been embroiled in a social media war after most of his Facebook friends called on him to step down as Zimbabwe’s tourism ambassador over his alleged political links and bad behaviour on the social networking platform.
BY TATIRA ZWINOIRA
Chizhanje who has risen to fame through Facebook and was now earning a living through corporate endorsements of his page, burnt his fingers after he allegedly started using the First family’s name in an attempt to gain recognition.
One of his followers described him as an attention seeking “Tom Foolery”.
“Using Dr Amai’s rally as his begging story . . . All you young thieves want to steal using Zanu PF’s name as if they are doing anything good . . . this is the sort of behaviour we are saying down with. Thomas Chizhanje, a crafty thief,” the follower said.
Another called on him to step down from being the brand ambassador for the Ministry of Tourism’s Nation Branding initiative and for the candidature of Tourism minister for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation secretary-general’s post.
Chizhanje is no stranger to controversy after he asked each of his followers to donate a $1 to him so that he could buy himself a car following s suggestion of his friends.
This was nearly a year ago, however, Chizhanje said he did not go through with it.
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Facebook users were accusing him of using current affairs, celebrities and other notable people to grow his popularity.
Chizhanje was accused of insulting notable people and celebrities with musicians Fungisai Zvakavapano Mashavave and Tocky Vibes being cited for reposting pictures of people with funny captions.
“You ridicule Fungisai’s shoes, yet you are the one who wears borrowed oversized shoes. I think Thomas Chizhanje needs to properly apologise to Fungisai, Tocky Vibes and all the other innocent folk he relentlessly humiliates and abuses on a daily basis on his profile,” another Facebook user, Mudhara Tindo said.
The messages continued, even targeting his wife whom, they poked for stammering during an opal promotion last year. But, some of Chizhanje’s followers took to posting comments in full support of him, describing the posts as negative and detrimental. In response, Chizhanje posted a long apology for his actions.
“I try my best to be as nice as possible online and in person. I am only human so I make mistakes. I have made fun of celebrities and defended them also but I feel there are people who strongly feel that I hurt them badly and for that I am sorry,” Chizhanje said.
“Because of my huge following, some people ask me to diss them…usually I refuse. I will never post about you without your consent. If you ask me to remove some of the posts that I would have posted I will remove them.”
He said since becoming famous and the brand ambassador he will now watch how he conducts himself on social media.
