By Delicious Mathuthu
Harare, Zimbabwe – Today marks exactly two months since investigative journalist Blessed Mhlanga last walked freely through the gates of Alpha Media Holdings.
Since his arrest on February 24, 2025, Mhlanga has spent each day behind bars, his fate suspended in a legal limbo that press freedom advocates say reflects growing intolerance toward critical journalism in Zimbabwe.
On Tuesday, April 22, Mhlanga was once again brought before the courts for a routine remand hearing.
In a brief session before Magistrate Ruth Moyo, the state requested a further remand, citing the absence of one key witness, investigating officer Inspector Chitambira, who is currently out of the country.
With this, Mhlanga’s wait was extended until April 30, when the state says it will be ready to set a trial date.
Mhlanga, a senior reporter with Alpha Media Holdings, is no stranger to hard-hitting reporting. Known for his fearless coverage of political issues and governance, he has now found himself on the other side of the story.
He faces two counts under Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, allegations of transmitting data messages deemed to incite violence or damage property following his Heart & Soul Television (H&STv) interviews with war veteran, Blessed Geza, who is challenging calls for presidential term extension for Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Though the charges are serious, legal experts and press freedom groups question the state’s delay in bringing the case to trial.
Despite several bail applications filed since February, Mhlanga remains behind bars.
In the crowded, under-resourced cells of Harare Remand Prison, he has reportedly been held in harsh conditions, sharing space with common criminals, dealing with food shortages and grappling with limited access to legal counsel.
The case has caught the attention of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), which continues to monitor violations against journalists across the region.
In a statement, MISA Zimbabwe condemned the prolonged detention and called on authorities to respect the rights of media professionals to operate without fear of retribution.
“This is not just about one journalist. It’s about the broader pattern of intimidation and legal harassment facing the media in Zimbabwe,” said Tabani Moyo, MISA Zimbabwe’s national director.
“Journalists are not enemies of the state,” he said, “they are watchdogs, fulfilling a public duty.”
MISA is encouraging journalists in similar situations to make use of its 24/7 SOS hotline for emergency legal and medical support, a vital lifeline for those targeted while working in increasingly hostile environments.
Mhlanga’s legal team says it remains hopeful that the state will honor its promise to complete investigations and move forward with the trial, despite the vested political interests to silence divergent voices with Geza Still challenging the status quo in the country.
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