Journalists and media allies call for the release of Blessed Mhlanga
PICTURE: Beate Vogl/Pexels
The arrest by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) of journalist Blessed Mhlanga on 24 February on account of using an online platform, Heart and Soul TV (owned by Alpha Media Holdings [AMH]), to allegedly spread falsehoods and incite public violence, is an act of cowardice, unacceptable in a democracy that permits the practice of journalism as a constitutional right to free expression and as a professional enterprise of mirroring society in its diverse manifestation.
The incident, which follows a series of unfortunate reports of irregular visits to Mhlanga’s place by armed individuals, a public statement by the police in search of the journalist and alleged questioning of the privately owned media organisation’s Chief Executive Officer Kenias Mafukidze, is condemnable and should be called out for what it is – an affront to journalism with a chilling effect on the exercise of freedom of expression.
As a network of journalistic professional associations and media support organisations, the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) calls for the release of Mhlanga and withdrawal of all charges that relate to his work as a journalist.
Journalism is not a crime and should never be treated as such. The parameters of journalism are predetermined at law and within the professional standards and codes of conduct
Any person aggrieved by the work of journalists, and, broadly the media, is free to utilise the existing mechanisms within the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ), where AMH subscribes to the Code of Conduct, or the constitutional regulatory body, the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC).
The move by the state security arm to arrest Mhlanga therefore exposes insincerity to the commitment to engage media stakeholders on media freedom and the safety of journalists.
Acts of criminalising journalism jeopardise the police and media action plan which represents a commitment between media stakeholders and the police to guarantee a conducive working environment for the media.
In the same vein, such actions are parallel to the commitment by President Emmerson Mnangagwa at a meeting with editors on 18 February, augmented by his Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Jenfan Muswere, at a Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ)-convened media indaba a day later.
MAZ demands respect for constitutional rights to free expression and the media and is strongly opposed to policies and practices that offend the same
MAZ calls on all journalists to stand in solidarity with Mhlanga on the pretext that an injury to one is an injury to all. We urge for unity of purpose across all media and for journalists to sustain to our vocation of truth telling without fear or favour.
The clarion call remains – journalism is not a crime.
(Editor: An update appeared in the media on 28 February, that Mhlanga was denied bail by Harare Magistrate Farai Gwatima, who remanded him in custody until 14 March. In denying bail, wrote Pindula news, Gwatima said ‘releasing Mhlanga could lead to unrest and undermine peace and security in the nation’.)
Zimbabwe National Editor’s Forum
ZINEF is deeply disturbed and concerned by the arrest of Alpha Media Holdings’ online broadcasting platform HSTV presenter Blessed Mhlanga by police after his recent interviews with war veterans’ leader Blessed Geza and others.
Police had earlier said they had been looking for Mhlanga for questioning in connection with claimed violations of Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23; for allegedly transmitting data messages that incite violence.
The two charges emanate from statements allegedly uttered by Geza, a former liberation war veteran and Zanu PF Central Committee member during interviews on 27 January 2025 and 11 February 2025.
Mhlanga was interrogated by police on 24 February 2025 about the broadcaster’s operations and a press conferences addressed by Geza.
Mhlanga, who is represented by Harare lawyer Chris Mhike, has been detained overnight at Harare Central Police Station and is expected to appear in court tomorrow.
Geza is now wanted by police who have since pressed four criminal charges – including undermining the authority of, and insulting, the President – against him. Geza’s wife Roseline Tawengwa was also picked up by police over her husband’s whereabouts, which remain unknown.
In this context, ZINEF strongly condemns the unwarranted arrest and harassment of Mhlanga who was simply doing his job as a journalist by interviewing war veterans in the public interest.
The interviews constituted legitimate journalism practice and media business.
Mhlanga’s arrest – which has a chilling effect on journalists’ professional work – is a clear attack on press freedom and constitutionally guaranteed rights, particularly freedom of expression
We demand the immediate release of Mhlanga and call on authorities to ensure he is not harassed, harmed or tortured while in police custody.
It is always disturbing and unacceptable to us when journalists get arrested for merely doing their job. As the now clichéd yet apt refrain goes – journalism is not a crime.
ZINEF also calls on the government to respect the constitutional rights of journalists, especially media freedom, as enshrined in Section 61 of the Constitution, which protects the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive and communicate information, as well as freedom of the media, allowing journalists to protect their sources and enabling the establishment of broadcast and electronic media subject to state licensing procedures independent of government influence.
These essentially guarantee the right to a free press with limitations only for necessary reasons, like public safety or protecting individual reputations.
While we appreciate that freedom of expression does not include promoting violence, hate speech, or damaging people’s reputations, we are clear that Mhlanga’s interviews fall within the ambit of media freedom and freedom of expression, as read with the Bill of Rights in Chapter 4 of the Constitution and other sections that protect the civil and political liberties of citizens.
These are: freedom of expression; freedom of the press; freedom of assembly; freedom of movement, and the right to a fair hearing.
We urge government to create a safe and conducive working environment for journalists to operate without fear of harassment or intimidation.
We stand in firm solidarity with Mhlanga, his family and colleagues, and will continue to advocate for the protection of journalists’ rights and the promotion of press freedom and other democratic rights in Zimbabwe.
Dumisani Muleya
ZINEF chairperson
- Listen to SAfm’s Elvis Presslin speaking to ZINEF Co-ordinator Njabulo Ncube to discuss the implications of Mhlanga’s arrest, here
And see eNCA’s coverage here:
