Zimbabwe’s Crackdown on Press Freedom: Journalist Detained for Interviews With War Veteran

Mhlanga, who has been behind bars since February 24, 2025, is facing what rights groups describe as politically motivated and baseless charges for conducting interviews with a prominent war veteran who criticized President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Zimbabwean authorities should immediately and unconditionally release Blessed Mhlanga, a respected senior journalist with Heart and Soul TV, and drop all charges against him, Human Rights Watch and other human rights organizations urged this week. Mhlanga, who has been behind bars since February 24, 2025, is facing what rights groups describe as politically motivated and baseless charges for conducting interviews with a prominent war veteran who criticized President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police arrested Mhlanga in the capital, Harare, accusing him of “transmitting false information with the intention of inciting violence or damage to property” under Section 164 of Zimbabwe’s Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. The charges stem from televised interviews he conducted with Blessed Geza, a liberation war veteran and member of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), who publicly criticized Mnangagwa’s leadership, citing nepotism, corruption, and misgovernance.

A Climate of Fear for the Press

“Mhlanga’s detention for merely interviewing a political figure is a chilling sign of Zimbabwe’s ongoing repression of press freedom,” said Idriss Ali Nassah, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “His arrest is not an isolated case but part of a broader strategy to silence independent voices in the media.”

The interviews in question aired in November 2024 and February 2025. In one of them, Geza openly called for Mnangagwa’s resignation, a bold move considering Geza's own association with the ruling party. Analysts say the government’s harsh reaction reflects growing intolerance for dissent—even from within its ranks.

On February 28, a Harare magistrate denied Mhlanga bail, arguing that his release could incite national unrest and threaten public security. This decision was later upheld by the High Court on March 21, despite mounting pressure from civil society and international observers.

Dire Prison Conditions and Health Concerns

Mhlanga remains in Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, one of Zimbabwe’s most notorious detention centers known for its squalid and overcrowded conditions. Cells reportedly lack running water, and prisoners often face severe shortages of food, bedding, and basic medical care.

On March 18, renowned investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono reported that Mhlanga had fallen seriously ill in prison. Calls for his urgent medical treatment have gone unanswered, raising alarm among press freedom advocates and his family.

Pattern of Persecution

The Mnangagwa administration, which came to power following a 2017 military coup, initially promised a break from the repressive governance of former President Robert Mugabe. However, its track record tells a different story. Since 2017, dozens of journalists, activists, and opposition figures have been arrested on dubious charges.

Recent incidents include the March 12 arrest of a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) local councilor who was charged with “insulting the president” after sharing a TikTok video that featured criticism of Mnangagwa’s economic policies. Although the councilor was released after two days, the arrest contributed to a growing sense of fear among opposition members and activists.

Veteran opposition leader Job Sikhala endured nearly 600 days in pretrial detention before receiving a suspended sentence in early 2024. Jacob Ngarivhume, another prominent opposition figure, was detained for eight months before his conviction was overturned in December 2023.

Legal Protections Ignored

Zimbabwe’s Constitution, along with regional and international treaties to which it is a party, guarantees the right to freedom of expression and the press. Section 50(1)(d) of the Constitution mandates that anyone arrested must be released unconditionally or on reasonable conditions unless compelling reasons justify their continued detention.

Additionally, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), both ratified by Zimbabwe, protect the rights to free speech, liberty, and a fair trial. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) explicitly calls on states to protect journalists from arbitrary detention under its Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa.

The United Nations Human Rights Council also emphasizes the duty of states to create a safe environment for journalists, whistleblowers, and anti-corruption activists.

International Outcry and Growing Pressure

International condemnation of Mhlanga’s detention has been swift. Press freedom watchdogs, human rights organizations, and diplomatic missions have all called for his immediate release. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) labeled the charges as a clear act of intimidation, and Amnesty International called the detention “a blatant abuse of the law.”

“Mhlanga’s incarceration is meant to send a message: journalists who challenge authority will be punished,” said Nassah. “But silencing the press only deepens Zimbabwe’s democratic crisis.”

As the 2025 general elections loom on the horizon, analysts worry that the government may escalate its crackdown on critical voices in an attempt to control public discourse. Civil society is urging international bodies, including the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), to take a firm stand against human rights violations in Zimbabwe.

Call to Action

Human Rights Watch and allied groups are urging President Mnangagwa’s administration to end the harassment of journalists and opposition figures, uphold constitutional rights, and restore faith in the justice system.

“The law must never be weaponized against those who speak truth to power,” said Nassah. “The world is watching—Zimbabwe must choose whether it wants to be a democracy or a dictatorship.”