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Daily Maverick
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Relief as Zim journalist finally granted bail, but concerns remain over media freedom attacks
Blessed Mhlanga was finally granted bail on Tuesday after he was arrested in February for interviewing a war veteran calling for the ouster of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Press freedom advocates have welcomed the granting of bail to Zimbabwean journalist Blessed Mhlanga but say the arrest of journalists and other assaults on media freedom remain a cause for concern throughout Africa, days after the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day. Mhlanga, a senior journalist for Zimbabwean online television station HStv, was arrested on 24 February 2025 on charges of inciting public violence, after interviewing a war veteran who has been calling for the ouster of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and had been denied bail three times before. Mhlanga's interviewee, Blessed Geza, has been leading calls to oust Mnangagwa, whom he blames for the country's economic ills. At the end of March, Zimbabweans stayed home after Geza, now a fugitive, called for mass demonstrations. After hearing from Mhlanga's lawyers, high court Judge Gibson Mandaza on Tuesday, 6 May, granted Mhlanga US$500 (about R9,150) bail and dismissed the prosecution's arguments that the accused would abscond. Tabani Moyo, the regional and concurrent country director for Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa), told Daily Maverick that although Mhlanga was still facing trial, his being granted bail was a welcome development. 'The granting of bail is supposed to be a basic human right, and for one to take almost 70 days to access or enjoy that basic human right is a travesty of justice.' Moyo said Misa had seen a decrease in the number of violations against press freedom in Zimbabwe, attributing this to engagements between media practitioners and the police, but added that 'the quantitative easing of these attacks on media freedoms does not take away their qualitative nature, which involved various players attacking or assaulting the media while it was doing its constitutionally mandated work'. He said his organisation believed that the enjoyment of media freedom was the anchor of all other rights, and therefore it was imperative for society to play a role in helping guarantee its existence. 'We are in the commemoration of World Press Freedom throughout the month of May, and this calls for reflection by the entire society in terms of helping bring about the conditions that enable the media to perform its basic rights.' Muthoki Mumo, the Africa programme coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent organisation that advocates for press freedom globally, told Daily Maverick the news of Mhlanga's being granted bail was a welcome relief after he had spent so many weeks behind bars. 'I must say that Blessed should never have spent a single day behind bars. We followed his case closely. We were of the opinion and remain of the opinion that his unjust detention is symptomatic of a broader restriction that we have seen in political discourse and debate in Zimbabwe.' Mumo said the Committee to Protect Journalists had recorded a number of incidents in Zimbabwe, including threatening with arrest those who were critical of the presidency, and threats of greater regulation of social media, adding that the worrying attacks on press freedom were not limited to Zimbabwe. 'Blessed may soon be free but many others remain behind bars on our continent in countries like Ethiopia, Eritrea and Cameroon, which routinely rank among the worst jailers of journalists in Africa. We see this in other countries like Burundi, which has sentenced a woman journalist to 21 months in prison for a WhatsApp message, and in Senegal where we see a journalist facing life in prison. 'As we commemorate World Press Freedom Day and activities associated with it, we must acknowledge, remember and keep at the top of our minds all those journalists who spent this very important day for our media community behind bars, all because they did their jobs as journalists,' she said. Mumo also decried 'a deeply worrying crackdown on freedom of expression in Kenya, going as far back as the anti-government demonstrations last year, with a blogger and several filmmakers being arrested under very dubious circumstances that do not necessarily follow due process, really because they criticised, or are perceived to have criticised, the authorities'. She said the Committee to Protect Journalists had been observing the enactment and enforcement of legislation that was inimical to press freedom across Africa, adding that even in countries where press freedom was enshrined in the constitution, 'there is a chipping away at this freedom, and there is an attempt to restrict what can be reported about, what can be spoken about freely, and that often prison is what awaits journalists who cross certain lines'. Mhlanga's trial begins on 14 May. His arrest drew widespread condemnation, and some parliamentarians in the UK had exhorted the government to quiz First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, who is scheduled to visit the country next month. DM
The South African
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Zimbabwean journalist granted bail after two months in detention
The Zimbabwean High Court has ended journalist Blessed Mhlanga's pre-trial detention, which lasted for more than two months. The court released Mhlanga on $500 (R9 130) bail. According to ZimLive , the magistrate and the High Court initially denied the Zimbabwean journalist bail two times. On Tuesday, High Court Judge Justice Gibson Mandaza rejected the prosecution's arguments that Mhlanga would run away once granted bail. The judge ruled that they could prevent him from leaving by setting conditions. 'After hearing submissions by both counsel, this court is of the view that the appellant is entitled to bail,' the judge said. 'The appellant is hereby granted bail. He is ordered to deposit US$500 (R9 130) bail, not US$200 (R3 650) as has been suggested by his counsel.' Mandaza ordered the journalist to avoid interfering with witnesses. He also instructed him to continue residing at the given address until the end of the matter. The judge further ordered the journalist to surrender his passport to the clerk of court and to report to the police once every Friday. Mhlanga, a journalist who works at Alpha Media Holdings, had spent 72 days in detention for interviewing a war veteran, Blessed Geza, who wants President Emmerson Mnangagwa to step down. News of Mhlanga's arrest sparked widespread condemnation internationally. Adding to the pressure, activists in London, United Kingdom, had made it known they intended to confront the First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa, during her upcoming conference visit in June. Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
eNCA
03-05-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
Zimbabwe journalists seek release of jailed colleague
HARARE - The 3rd of May marked World Press Freedom Day and journalists in Zimbabwe are calling for the unconditional release of jailed journalist Blessed Mhlanga. Mhlanga has been in remand in prison for over two months after interviewing a critic of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The South African
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Britain's Lord Oates demands accountability for Zim journalist's arrest
British politician and member of the House of Lords, Jonny Oates, has demanded accountability regarding the jailing of Zimbabwean journalist Blessed Mhlanga. Mhlanga, a journalist who works at Alpha Media Holdings, has now spent 60 days in detention for interviewing a war veteran, Blessed Geza, who wants President Emmerson Mnangagwa to step down. Lord Oates spoke during a debate on media freedom in the House of Lords on Thursday. He said the Zimbabwean authorities arrested Mhlanga for no other reason than reporting the truth. 'As we speak, the journalist Blessed Mhlanga has been detained for 59 days and denied his constitutional right to bail,' Lord Oates said. 'His crime is having the temerity to conduct an interview with a former war veteran who opposes President Mnangagwa's desire to extend his term in office and has highlighted the criminal corruption of the regime and the President's family.' He added that he hopes the British government will make it clear that there will be no resumption of normal relations with Zimbabwe while the ZANU-PF regime continues to detain journalists. Lord Oates urged the Parliamentarians to ask the Zimbabwean First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa, about Mhlanga's freedom. Auxillia will speak at a summit in London in June. 'I note that the President's wife is due to speak at a summit in London in June,' Lord Oates noted. 'I hope that Members of our Parliament who are choosing to take part will challenge Zimbabwe's First Lady on the continued detention of Blessed Mhlanga and the overall brutality of the regime she represents.' Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
