Blessed Mhlanga, a journalist with the online television channel HStv, was denied bail by a Harare court on Friday, February 28, 2025. He faces charges of inciting violence after publishing interviews with Blessed Geza, a veteran of Zimbabwe’s independence struggle and a ruling ZANU-PF member critical of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The court’s decision has reignited concerns over press freedom in Zimbabwe. In interviews published on January 27 and February 11, Geza suggested that Mnangagwa should resign or risk being removed by legal means. Citing these remarks, Judge Farai Gwatima ruled that Mhlanga’s reporting amounted to incitement. “The message being conveyed clearly encourages violence,” the judge stated, justifying his decision to deny bail. He further argued that Mhlanga’s release could destabilize the country. The 44-year-old journalist is scheduled to stand trial on March 14.
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) condemned the ruling, calling it an attack on press freedom. “This is a criminalization of journalism,” said MISA Zimbabwe director Tabani Moyo. “Among the state’s key witnesses is the head of counter-terrorism, as if journalism has become a terrorist act. This is deeply troubling.”
Following the ousting of longtime ruler Robert Mugabe in 2017, Zimbabwe saw initial improvements in media access. However, press freedoms have steadily eroded since Mnangagwa’s 2023 re-election. While the constitution guarantees freedom of expression and media rights, authorities have increasingly used penal code provisions to silence critical journalists like Mhlanga.