Recently, the press freedom situation in Zimbabwe has taken a concerning turn with the detention of journalist Blessed Mhlanga.
He spent Monday night in police custody after being accused of inciting violence through his online broadcasts.
Mhlanga’s legal team has confirmed that he will appear in court today, Tuesday.
What the Charges Are About
Mhlanga, a journalist working with Alpha Media Holdings, faces serious charges related to data transmission.
Specifically, authorities claim that he broadcasted messages that could incite violence.
This all stems from two video broadcasts aired by HStv, a platform under Alpha Media Holdings.
In these broadcasts, war veteran Blessed Geza, a known critic of the ruling government, was featured, leading to the legal issues.
Mhlanga’s Surrender to Authorities
According to Mhlanga’s lawyer, Chris Mhike, the journalist turned himself in voluntarily to the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Law and Order division.
He arrived at Harare Central Police Station on Monday morning.
Mhlanga is now facing charges under Section 164 of the Cybersecurity and Data Protection Act, which deals with the “transmission of a data message inciting violence or damage to property.”
Mhlanga had been under police watch for some time after covering press conferences held by Geza, who is an outspoken critic of the ruling Zanu PF party and President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
A Growing Concern for Zimbabwean Journalists
Mhlanga’s arrest highlights a troubling trend in Zimbabwe, where journalists are increasingly targeted by the government for their work.
Notably, award-winning investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono was arrested multiple times, especially after exposing corruption in COVID-19 procurement deals.
He faced charges for allegedly inciting public violence simply for supporting anti-government protests on social media.
Other journalists have been similarly targeted. Jeffrey Moyo, a reporter for The New York Times, was arrested in 2021, accused of assisting foreign journalists with their media credentials.
Mduduzi Mathuthu, the editor of ZimLive, also faced police raids and harassment after his reporting on government corruption.
Press Freedom Under Growing Threat
Mhlanga’s detention has raised serious concerns about press freedom in Zimbabwe, where journalists often face harassment, intimidation, and legal battles simply for doing their jobs.
The case has sparked a larger debate about the safety and protection of journalists in the country.