from MARCUS MUSHONGA in Harare, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Bureau
HARARE, (CAJ News) – ZIMBABWEAN authorities have been urged to release and drop the charges against journalist Blessed Mhlanga, detained for more than a month now.
Mhlanga, a senior journalist for the independent media outlet Heart and Soul TV, has been charged with “transmitting information that incites violence or causes damage to property” under Section 164 of Zimbabwe’s Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The charges relate to interviews that he did in November 2024 and February 2025 with Blessed Geza, a war veteran leader and member of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party, who demanded the resignation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, accusing him of nepotism, corruption and incompetence.
“Zimbabwean authorities should immediately release the journalist Blessed Mhlanga and drop the charges against him for simply doing his job,” said Idriss Ali Nassah, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch.
“These baseless charges are yet another stark reminder that the rights to freedom of expression and the media are under serious threat in Zimbabwe.”
On February 28, a magistrate court denied Mhlanga bail on the grounds that his release would cause national unrest and undermine peace and security.
The High Court upheld the decision on March 21, leaving him languishing in prolonged pretrial detention at Harare’s maximum-security Chikurubi Prison.
Hopewell Chin’ono, a renowned journalist, reported on March 18 that Mhlanga had fallen “seriously ill” in prison.
Nassah said the arrest and prolonged detention of Mhlanga sent a message to journalists that their work made them a target for mistreatment.
“The Mnangagwa government should respect basic rights and stop weaponizing the law and judicial system against journalists, human rights defenders, opposition politicians, and activists.”
– CAJ News