HARARE – Blessed Mhlanga, a senior reporter for Alpha Media Holdings’ HStv, who interviewed war veteran and Zanu PF Central Committee member Blessed Geza, has been arrested and charged with incitement.
Mhlanga turned himself in to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Law and Order division at Harare Central Police Station.
The arrest follows a public appeal by ZRP spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi for assistance in locating Mhlanga, who was wanted for allegedly violating the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Mhlanga had previously stated he was unable to report to the police due to illness.
According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Mhlanga faces two counts of violating Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, specifically for allegedly transmitting data messages that incite violence.
These charges stem from statements reportedly made by Geza, a liberation war veteran, on January 27 and February 11, 2025.
During questioning, ZRP officers interrogated Mhlanga about HStv’s operations and press conferences reportedly addressed by Geza.
The police are also seeking Geza, who is accused of undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s authority by calling for his resignation.
Mhlanga, represented by Chris Mhike of ZLHR, is being detained overnight at Harare Central Police Station and is expected to appear in court on Tuesday.
The arrest has drawn strong condemnation from observers.
Prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono described the detention as a “cowardly act” and a sign of a “regime that lacks confidence in its mandate,” asserting that Mhlanga is not a flight risk.
“The detention of Blessed Mhlanga is a cowardly act by the Zimbabwean government. Blessed is not a flight risk, yet the jackboot tactics used in the past are being used again.
“Arresting journalists for practicing journalism is a clear sign of a regime that lacks confidence in its mandate!
“It is clear that the side shows that have been created against Blessed and other journalists by well known covert Zanu-PF social media influencers are deliberate so that we don’t talk about this issue,” Chin’ono said.
Alpha Media Holdings publisher Trevor Ncube condemned the arrest, stating that Mhlanga is being “punished” for his journalistic work, specifically for HStv’s broadcast of an interview with Blessed Geza.
Ncube characterised Mhlanga as a “principled and courageous journalist” and denounced the arrest as “brazen harassment and intimidation.”
“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 HStv News broadcast of an interview with Blessed Geza.
“This is punishing Dhara for doing his work as a journalist. Dhara is a principled and courageous journalist who will not be broken by this brazen harassment and intimidation,” Ncube stated.
Geza has been vocal in his criticism of the plan to extend Mnangagwa’s term of office beyond the constitutionally mandated two-term limit. The police are saying that the decorated war veteran is at large.
