According
to
the
Zimbabwe
Lawyers
for
Human
Rights
(ZLHR),
the
charges
stem
from
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.
Mhlanga,
a
journalist
with
HStv,
was
interrogated
by
police
on
Monday
about
the
broadcaster’s
operations
and
its
coverage
of
Geza’s
statements.
He
is
being
represented
by
lawyer
Chris
Mhike
from
ZLHR
and
is
set
to
spend
the
night
in
custody
at
Harare
Central
Police
Station.
He
is
expected
to
appear
in
court
on
Tuesday.
Reacting
to
the
arrest,
Alpha
Media
Holdings
(AMH)
chairman
Trevor
Ncube
strongly
condemned
the
detention
of
Mhlanga,
whom
he
described
as
a
principled
journalist.
“I
condemn
in
the
strongest
terms
the
arrest
and
detention
of
Blessed
Mhlanga
today.
Dhara
is
spending
the
night
in
police
custody
accused
of
‘transmission
of
data
message
inciting
violence
or
damage
to
property.’
This
follows
Heart
and
Soul
Television’s
broadcast
of
an
interview
with
Blessed
Geza.
This
is
punishing
Dhara
for
doing
his
work
as
a
journalist.
He
is
a
principled
and
courageous
journalist
who
will
not
be
broken
by
this
brazen
harassment
and
intimidation,”
Ncube
said.
Geza
has
emerged
as
a
vocal
critic
within
ZANU-PF,
openly
challenging
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa’s
leadership.
He
has
called
for
Mnangagwa’s
resignation,
alleging
constitutional
violations
and
corruption
within
the
administration.