Social media personality Madam Boss has hit back at critics who questioned her invitation to speak at the Tech Convergence Fora 2025 in Harare last week.
Some online commentators mocked Tarisai Cleopatra Chikocho, popularly known as Madam Boss, claiming she was unqualified to speak on information technology and artificial intelligence, claiming that she did not complete her Zimbabwe Junior Certificate (ZJC).
In a post on her Facebook page on Tuesday, 11 November, Madam Boss said she had been invited by ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera to represent social media influencers. She addressed the “Challenges and Opportunities” faced by influencers in Zimbabwe.
In her speech, Madam Boss highlighted several hurdles confronting influencers, including poor internet connectivity and high data costs, which make real-time engagement and live streaming expensive.
She also noted limited monetisation options, with platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok often restricting direct payouts to Zimbabwe.
Influencers often rely on brand partnerships, which are constrained by economic hardships and difficulties in receiving international payments.
Other challenges include cybersecurity threats, online harassment, particularly of female creators, and the absence of formal regulations governing influencer marketing, contracts, and advertising disclosures.
Despite these obstacles, Madam Boss said there were significant opportunities for growth. She pointed to increasing internet penetration and smartphone use, the expansion of digital marketing and brand partnerships, and emerging monetisation avenues through local and global platforms.
The rise of mobile money and fintech services such as EcoCash and InnBucks, she added, has made collaborations and payments easier for influencers.
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