Harare – The shocking arrest of Heart & Soul Television (HSTv) head of news Blessed Mhlanga on incitement of public violence charges has triggered a firestorm of international condemnation, with global media watchdogs accusing Zimbabwean authorities of a brutal crackdown on press freedom.
Authorities snatched Mhlanga on February 25 and has since been remanded in custody until March 14, after a Harare magistrate denied him bail. The move has been widely slammed as a tactic to silence critical voices, with media rights groups describing it as state-sponsored intimidation and harassment of journalists.
International Outcry: “A Travesty of Justice”
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has fiercely denounced the arrest, calling it a direct assault on press freedom. IFJ general secretary Anthony Bellanger did not mince his words, branding Mhlanga’s detention a grave injustice.
“Journalist Blessed Mhlanga has committed no crime, and his arrest and detention are a travesty of justice,” Bellanger declared.
“The Zimbabwean government must end its outdated tactics of media repression and allow journalists to operate freely. Intimidation and harassment under vague and rogue criminal charges only lead to self-censorship, which is disastrous for democracy.”
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State Accused of Weaponizing the Law Against Journalists
Mhlanga is facing two counts of violating Section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, a law that penalizes the transmission of data messages inciting violence or property damage. The charges stem from his coverage of press conferences held by war veteran and ruling Zanu PF member Blessing Geza, who boldly called for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to resign, accusing him of economic mismanagement.
Mhlanga’s lawyer, Chris Mhike, has blasted the charges as a calculated move to criminalize journalism, drawing chilling comparisons to Zimbabwe’s dark past of media suppression.
“The State is now equating journalism to terrorism,” Mhike said, warning that such persecution is setting a dangerous precedent for press freedom in Zimbabwe.
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A Return to Mugabe-Era Media Repression?
Critics argue that Zimbabwe is dangerously sliding back to the Mugabe-era tactics of silencing dissent. Many fear that the Mnangagwa administration is tightening its grip on the press, ensuring that only government-sanctioned narratives dominate public discourse.
With international pressure mounting and media freedom under siege, the world is watching to see whether Harare will bow to calls for Mhlanga’s release or double down on its repression of journalists.
For now, the battle for Zimbabwe’s press freedom rages on.
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