…”Hon Mavetera muri free when timbosangana ?,” he wrote with a love emoji suggesting a proposal for an affair…

By Showbiz Reporter | ZimEye | Zimbabwean socialite and humorist Thomas Chizhanje has once again captivated the nation with his satirical take on Minister Tatenda Mavetera’s now-reversed policy on WhatsApp administrators. In a Facebook exchange that has since gone viral, Chizhanje “handed himself” over for police arrest, humorously offering to be the first WhatsApp administrator detained for failing to pay the controversial USD 2,500 licensing fee. This policy, which aimed to regulate group administrators, caused an uproar before it was swiftly withdrawn.

”Hon Mavetera muri free when timbosangana ?,” he wrote with a love emoji suggesting a proposal for an affair.

When the minister jokingly questioned whether Chizhanje was indeed an administrator, “Asi uri Admin here nhai Thomas Chizhanje?,” asked the minister.

“Haasi hake admin weWhatsApp, asi ndi admin wezve Equatorial Guinea Affairs,” (he’s not a WhatsApp admin, but is an admin of Equatorial Guinea Affairs), a follower replied.

“Hon. Tatenda Mavetera, ndiri ready kuenda kujeri ndive admin wekutanga kupiswa! License fee yangu handina… ndichibhadharira kupi?” (Hon. Tatenda Mavetera, I’m ready to go to jail as the first admin to be punished! I don’t have the license fee… where would I even pay it?), Chizhanje was understood to be saying so even though he did not.

This tongue-in-cheek remark referenced the international scandal involving Beltazar, a government official from Equatorial Guinea, who is alleged to have been caught in a sex tape scandal spanning 400 videos. By making this connection, Chizhanje highlighted the absurdity of the initial WhatsApp policy while tapping into global headlines for comedic effect.

The development comes as Minister Mavetera on Saturday night apologized for the confusion her statements caused, admitting that the policy was misunderstood. When asked why she took four days to attend to her statement she replied saying that this was because she was travelling for over 12,145 km.

However, this did little to stem the tide of public ridicule. Social media users have continued to mock her qualifications and judgment, with some saying, “Tatenda Mavetera anoda kuisa munhu kujeri nekuda kwegroup,” (Tatenda Mavetera wants to jail someone for a WhatsApp group).

Chizhanje’s commentary has struck a chord with many Zimbabweans, who see humor as a way to critique governance. One user remarked, “Thomas Chizhanje ari kutiudza chokwadi nehuchapa. Policy dzekushaya basa ngadzimire!” (Thomas Chizhanje is telling the truth with humor. Useless policies must stop!). Another added, “Kana policy yako yava nyaya yekusekwa, unofanira kuzvibvunza,” (If your policy becomes a joke, you need to reflect).

This incident underscores how Zimbabweans have turned to humor as a tool to process and critique political and social issues. Chizhanje’s playful, yet sharp satire not only entertained but also underscored the disconnect between governance and public sentiment, turning what was a contentious issue into a moment of collective reflection and laughter.