Journalist Blessed Mhlanga has been arrested by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and charged with two counts of violating Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. The charges stem from allegations that Mhlanga transmitted data messages that incite violence.
The charges relate to statements allegedly made by Blessing Geza, a ZANU PF central committee member and liberation war veteran, on January 27 and February 11, 2025. Geza’s remarks are said to have triggered the criminal investigation into Mhlanga, who works for HStv, a local broadcaster.
On Monday, February 24, 2025, Mhlanga was interrogated by ZRP officers regarding the operations of HStv and its alleged involvement in press conferences addressed by Geza.
Mhlanga’s legal representation comes from Chris Mhike, a lawyer with the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR). According to ZLHR, Mhlanga is being detained overnight at Harare Central Police Station and is expected to appear in court on Tuesday.
This development follows last week’s public appeal by the ZRP for help in locating Mhlanga, who had previously cited illness as the reason for his failure to report to the authorities.
Mhlanga’s arrest has drawn attention to the ongoing tensions surrounding the Zimbabwean media landscape and the legal pressures faced by journalists in the country.
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