Tawanda Matangambiri
Zimbabwean President, Emmerson Mnangagwa must be stopped before it’s too late. In recent weeks, Zimbabwe has witnessed a troubling series of events highlighting the precarious state of press freedom and the lengths to which authorities are willing to go to suppress dissenting voices. The arrest of journalist Blessed Mhlanga, following his interviews with war veteran and ZANU-PF Central Committee member, Blessed Geza, underscores the challenges faced by media practitioners in the country.
The arrest of Blessed Mhlanga
Blessed Mhlanga, a journalist with Heart and Soul Television (HStv), was arrested on February 24, 2025, after responding to a police summons. The charges against him stem from interviews conducted in November 2024 and January 2025 with Blessed Geza, during which Geza criticised President Emmerson Mnangagwa, accusing him of nepotism, corruption, and economic mismanagement, and called for his resignation. Authorities allege that these interviews amounted to “transmission of data messages inciting violence or damage to property,” offenses under the 2021 Cyber and Data Protection Act, carrying penalties of up to five years in prison and fines up to US$700.
Following his arrest, Mhlanga was denied bail by a Harare magistrate, who deemed him a flight risk. The court’s decision has been met with criticism from press freedom advocates, who argue that Mhlanga was merely fulfilling his journalistic duties by providing a platform for diverse viewpoints. You don’t need anyone to tell you that the justice system in Zimbabwe is captured and Mnangagwa is weaponising it to cow dissenters into silence. It’s an all too familiar script.
Harassment of Geza’s family
The crackdown extended beyond Mhlanga to Geza’s family. On 19 February 2025, police summoned Geza’s wife, Rosiline Tawengwa, to the Law and Order division at Harare Central Police Station. This move has been perceived as an attempt to pressure Geza, who has reportedly gone into hiding following charges of inciting public violence, undermining the authority of the president, and theft.
Implications for Press Freedom
These developments have sparked outrage among journalists and human rights organizations. The Media Institute of Southern Africa’s Zimbabwe chapter condemned Mhlanga’s arrest, emphasizing that he was performing his role as a journalist by facilitating public discourse. The US Embassy in Zimbabwe also criticised the arrest, asserting that constitutional rights to bail and free speech should be upheld for all journalists.
The targeting of journalists and their sources poses a significant threat to press freedom in Zimbabwe. When authorities criminalise the act of interviewing individuals with dissenting opinions, it creates a chilling effect that discourages open dialogue and undermines democratic principles. Such actions not only violate the rights of journalists but also deprive the public of access to diverse perspectives essential for informed decision-making. All this while the authorities continue their repressive agenda. In recent months, ZANU PF functionaries going all out to attack anyone opposing its plan to amend the constitution and allow Mnangagwa to rule for a third term without going for elections in 2028. All these are signs of a government that will stop at nothing to achieve its plans to continue plundering Zimbabwe’s resources.
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Conclusion
The arrest of Blessed Mhlanga and the harassment of Blessed Geza’s family highlight the ongoing challenges to press freedom in Zimbabwe. These incidents serve as a stark reminder of the need to protect journalists and uphold the fundamental right to freedom of expression. As the situation unfolds, the international community and local stakeholders must continue to advocate for the rights of journalists and the preservation of democratic values in Zimbabwe. If members of the fourth estate are facing such persecution and if Mnangagwa’s government is prepared to terrorise Geza’s hapless wife all in the name of wanting to bring Geza to book for imaginary offences, what of the common man who has neither the voice nor means to fight back/ Mnangagwa and his party must be stopped before it’s too late. International organisations and other countries must indeed intervene and stop Mnangagwa or Zimbabwe will continue descending into an abyss.
Tawanda Matangambiri is a Zimbabwean based in London, the United Kingdom. Views expressed in this article are his own and do not necessarily represent those of the publication.
