……As Journalist Blessed Mhlanga is Denied Bail
By Delicious Mathuthu
Harare, Zimbabwe – In a move that has intensified concerns about media freedom in Zimbabwe, prominent journalist Blessed Mhlanga will spend two weeks in remand prison after being denied bail and remanded in custody until March 14, 2025.
Mhlanga, a senior journalist at Alpha Media Holdings’ (AMH) online platform, Heart and Soul Television (H&Stv), and NewsDay, was arrested on February 24 after voluntarily presenting himself to the authorities with his lawyer, Chris Mhike.
Mhlanga faces charges related to interviews he conducted with war veteran and ZANU PF central committee member, Blessed Geza, on January 27 and February 11, 2025, which were broadcast on H&Stv.
During the broadcast interviews, Geza openly criticized President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government and called for nationwide protests demanding the President’s resignation.
Prosecutors allege that by airing these interviews, Mhlanga incited public violence and threatened national security.
In his ruling on Friday, after failing to show up on Thursday, the original bail hearing date due to a personal emergency, Harare Magistrate Farai Gwatima stated that releasing Mhlanga could compromise ongoing investigations, emphasizing the risk of witness interference given Mhlanga’s influential position at AMH.
“It is my considered view that… given his position at work, if granted bail he is likely to interfere. Of critical importance, some of the witnesses have not been retired, hence his release will jeopardize investigations,” Gwatima said.
The court further argued that the nature of the charges, which involve allegations of threatening public peace, justified keeping Mhlanga in custody until the next hearing.
The prosecution claimed that the interviews had a significant potential to incite unrest, citing the sensitive political environment currently prevailing in the country.
In a handwritten letter circulated from his cell, Mhlanga expressed defiance and commitment to journalistic integrity despite his detention.
“I am stronger… I remain committed to the principles of truth and justice, and I will not be cowed by this experience,” he wrote.
The letter has sparked widespread reactions, with some interpreting it as a symbol of resistance against growing pressure on the media in Zimbabwe.
Mhlanga’s arrest and subsequent denial of bail have provoked sharp responses from media advocacy groups and civil society organisations.
The Zimbabwe National Editors’ Forum (ZINEF) condemned the move, describing it as a direct assault on press freedom.
Similarly, the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) criticized the government’s actions, arguing that Mhlanga’s interviews were well within the bounds of journalistic practice.
Trevor Ncube, AMH’s publisher and Mhlanga’s boss, also voiced his frustration, describing the court’s decision as politically motivated.
“It is saddening, it is heart-breaking, but it was to be expected. The real surprise would have been if the court had seriously applied itself to the case before it,” Ncube remarked.
International organizations have also joined the outcry with Amnesty International Zimbabwe condemning the arrest as a blatant attack on press freedom.
Some analysts say Mhlanga’s case has highlighted the precarious state of journalism in Zimbabwe, where media practitioners face increasing threats, arrests, and intimidation.
They also say the incident has also raised questions about the application of the Cyber and Data Protection Act, under which Mhlanga is being charged.
