Human rights violations in Zimbabwe have been going on for decades, with press freedom among the many casualties.
The state continues to wield its apparatus to suppress the media.
Heart and Soul TV (HSTV) broadcast editor Blessed Mhlanga’s pre-trial incarceration is quite chilling. It is not only a blatant violation of his fundamental rights, but also a disturbing reflection of the shrinking democractic space in Zimbabwe.
Remember the words of Walter Cronkite, an American broadcast journalist, who said: “The freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy.”
From Cronkite’s assertion, it is critical to note that the press is key in nurturing democracy.
Mhlanga’s detention on charges of transmitting information that allegedly incites public violence or causes property damage under Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act is clear evidence that the government is determined to stifle press freedom.
His arrest stems from interviews he conducted with war veteran Blessed Geza, a vocal opponent of the proposed extension of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term.
Instead of upholding constitutional guarantees for media freedom and freedom of expression, authorities have chosen to criminalise the work of a journalist.
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This case mirrors a pattern of state repression targeting critical voices in the media and civil society.
Zimbabwe’s actions are in contravention of regional and international human rights commitments.
The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), to which Zimbabwe is a signatory, explicitly upholds the right to freedom of expression under Article 9.
The charter recognises that all individuals have the right to receive, express, and disseminate information without interference. By detaining a journalist for reporting on matters of public interest, Zimbabwean authorities are violating the ACHPR and their constitution.
This unwarranted detention of Mhlanga violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Article 19 of both these instruments guarantees the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds.
Zimbabwe, as a member of the United Nations, has an obligation to uphold these rights rather than undermine them through judicial persecution. The crackdown on journalists through draconian legal provisions is not new in Zimbabwe, as authorities have previously weaponised overly broad laws to muzzle dissenting voices.
The selective application of laws such as the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act raises legitimate concerns about the politicisation of the judiciary and law enforcement.
Instead of ensuring justice and upholding constitutional freedoms, these institutions appear increasingly complicit in suppressing independent journalism, as well as shielding the ruling elite from scrutiny.
When journalists such as Mhlanga are arrested for doing their job, it sends a chilling message to the entire media fraternity and stifles public discourse. The fear of harassment, arrest, and prolonged detention breed self-censorship.
As well-respected human rights defender and advocate for press freedom Pansy Tlakula said: “A free press is not an enemy of the people, it is the voice of the people”.
The government must be reminded that the criminalisation of journalism is incompatible with a democratic society.
The immediate and unconditional release of Mhlanga is imperative. Furthermore, authorities should cease their persistent attacks on press freedom and uphold their obligations under both domestic and international human rights frameworks.
Mhlanga’s case is not just about one journalist — it is about the fight for freedom, justice, and the protection of fundamental rights.
His incarceration is an attack on democracy itself, and it must not be allowed to stand.
