Mhlanga,
who
was
arrested
on
Monday
and
charged
with
two
counts
of
contravening
Section
164
of
the
Criminal
Law
(Codification
and
Reform)
Act,
remains
in
prison
after
his
bail
ruling
was
postponed
to
Friday,
28
February
2025,
at
12
noon.
Stand
in
magistrate,
Marewanazvo
Gofa
said
the
delay
was
attributed
to
Magistrate
Farai
Gwatima’s
absence
due
to
a
funeral.
Mhlanga’s
arrest
stems
from
allegations
that
he
transmitted
data
messages
inciting
violence,
based
on
statements
allegedly
made
by
Zanu
PF
central
committee
member
and
liberation
war
veteran
Blessed
Geza
during
press
conferences
on
27
January
and
11
February
2025.
Opposition
parties
said
these
charges
have
been
widely
criticised
as
an
attempt
to
silence
critical
journalism
and
suppress
freedom
of
expression.
The
Patriotic
Front
(TPF)
has
strongly
condemned
Mhlanga’s
incarceration,
describing
it
as
a
brazen
attack
on
press
freedom.
“TPF
is
appalled
and
outraged
by
the
incarceration
of
journalist
Blessed
Mhlanga,
a
brazen
attack
on
press
freedom
and
a
stark
reminder
of
the
Zimbabwean
government’s
relentless
war
on
journalism,”
said
TPF
Secretary
General
Prosper
Ncube.
Ncube
invoked
the
words
of
French
philosopher
Albert
Camus,
stating,
“The
duty
of
journalism
is
to
publish
the
truth,
and
the
duty
of
the
government
is
to
protect
the
truth.
In
Zimbabwe,
however,
the
government
seems
hell-bent
on
suppressing
the
truth,
using
every
tool
at
its
disposal
to
silence
the
messengers.”
He
further
criticised
the
Zimbabwe
Republic
Police
(ZRP)
for
its
selective
application
of
the
law.
“The
ZRP
has
once
again
demonstrated
its
penchant
for
targeting
journalists,
while
allowing
heist
criminals
and
other
perpetrators
of
serious
crimes
to
roam
free.
This
warped
priority
and
blatant
disregard
for
the
rule
of
law
undermine
the
very
foundations
of
our
democracy,”
Ncube
said.
The
TPF
demanded
Mhlanga’s
immediate
release,
an
end
to
the
harassment
of
journalists,
and
concrete
steps
by
the
government
to
protect
press
freedom.
Ncube
also
called
on
the
international
community
to
condemn
the
Zimbabwean
government’s
actions,
quoting
Nobel
laureate
Amartya
Sen
who
said:
“A
free
press
is
not
a
luxury,
but
a
necessity,
for
a
functioning
democracy.”
The
Mthwakazi
Republic
Party
(MRP)
also
condemned
Mhlanga’s
arrest,
describing
it
as
a
reflection
of
the
Zanu
PF
regime’s
contempt
for
democratic
values.
“MRP
vehemently
condemns
the
arrest
and
harassment
of
journalist
Blessing
Mhlanga
by
ZRP.
This
blatant
attack
on
press
freedom
and
the
rule
of
law
is
a
stark
reminder
of
the
Zanu
PF
regime’s
contempt
for
democratic
values
and
human
rights,”
said
MRP’s
National
Spokesperson
Mbonisi
Gumbo.
Gumbo
said
MRP
demands
Mhlanga’s
immediate
release
and
an
end
to
the
harassment
of
journalists
and
opposition
leaders.
“We
call
on
the
international
community
to
condemn
these
actions
and
hold
the
ZANU-PF
regime
accountable
for
their
blatant
disregard
for
human
rights
and
the
rule
of
law,”
he
said.
Mhlanga’s
arrest
is
the
latest
in
a
series
of
incidents
targeting
journalists
and
opposition
figures
in
Zimbabwe
with
critics
arguing
the
government
is
using
the
legal
system
to
intimidate
and
silence
dissenting
voices.
Both
the
TPF
and
MRP
have
called
on
the
international
community
to
take
a
stand
against
the
Zimbabwean
government’s
actions.
Ncube
quoted
Martin
Luther
King
Jr.,
saying,
“Injustice
anywhere
is
a
threat
to
justice
everywhere,”
and
urged
global
stakeholders
to
condemn
the
persecution
of
journalists
in
Zimbabwe.
Gumbo
echoed
this
sentiment.
“The
MRP
will
continue
to
stand
in
solidarity
with
journalists,
opposition
leaders,
and
all
those
who
fight
for
democracy,
freedom,
and
justice
in
Zimbabwe.”