Staff Reporter
Users of the ClubHouse, an audio chat application that has taken social media by storm, have expressed disquiet over the MDC Alliance supporters whom they say will destabilise the edifying platform through their intolerant, rowdy and abusive behaviour.
The MDC A leader, Nelson Chamisa has recently signed up to ClubHouse, a move that has seen hordes of his supporters- also known as Chamisa Chete Chete (CCC) for their bigotry -joining same.
Novelist, playwright and lawyer, Petina Gappah has described the CCC brigade as rowdy, abusive and intolerant fanatics.
“Nelson Chamisa joining ClubHouse today inevitably means the mood is going to change in the Zimbabwe rooms. Not because of him or anything he will do or say but because he will bring in his wake the CCC fanatics who can tolerate only one view. The CCC squad is especially rowdy on social media. As citizens, l find CCC appalling,” said Gappah.
According to Gappah, ClubHouse was only designed to be a space for authentic conversation and expression, where people can have fun, learn, make meaningful connections, and share rich experiences with others around the world. She said Chamisa’s coming in meant the mood was going to change in the Zimbabwe rooms.
Gappah predicted that there shall be CCC fanatics with fake names trolling rooms to shout Zanu-PF must go and conversation that is not about that will be called a “false equivalence”
Chamisa’s spokesperson, Dr Nkululeko Sibanda accused Gappah of insulting millions of Chamisa’s supporters.
However, Gappah said it was her right to call the MDC-Alliance supporters fanatics who were intolerant and abusive to others and unwilling to go beyond fanatic praise and worship.
Gappah said she had no issues with Chamisa as he was actually her relative, but only had issues with his CCC fanatics. She added that she didn’t like what she termed mindless mobs and unthinking critics.
Cyber contestation has become prevalent in Zimbabwe. In 2018, President Emmerson Mnangagwa urged his supporters to be visible on social media which had hitherto dominated by the MDC Alliance supporters. Since then, the dominance of the MDC on social media was counterbalanced.
The unleashing of the MDC Alliance supporters on ClubHouse has been viewed as an attempt to dominate the new platform. Analysts say the platform is going to set electoral agenda and shape the election behaviour of the voters.
