Harare, Zimbabwe - March 3, 2025
The Democratic Solidarity Africa (DSA) regrets the entirely illegal arrest and detention of journalist Blessed Mhlanga on Monday, February 24, 2025, in a case classified as incitement due to his interviews with a war veteran critical of the government. His subsequent denial of bail by the Harare Magistrates' Court clearly indicates the Zimbabwean authorities' intent to silence critical voices and suppress press freedom. Even more concerning is the court’s ruling that Mhlanga must remain in detention until March 14, simply for carrying out his duties as a journalist.
DSA recalls that this incarceration violates Zimbabwe's law on freedom of the press. Therefore, we urge the Zimbabwean authorities to immediately release Mhlanga and drop all charges against him. We also call on the government to respect journalists' and citizens' rights to freedom of expression and assembly, as enshrined in the Zimbabwean Constitution and international human rights law.
Today is a sad day for all human rights defenders, particularly freedom of expression in Zimbabwe. We thought that the practices of harassing, intimidating, and violating the basic rights of journalists were over in Zimbabwe, but unfortunately, this is not the case.
DSA urges public authorities, political parties, national and international institutions, human rights organizations, and press associations to take immediate and concrete action against this attempt to suppress the media in Zimbabwe—an attack on the hard-won freedom of expression.
Committed to promoting democracy and the rule of law, DSA remains resolute in its fight for a just and democratic society, where freedom of expression is upheld as a fundamental right.
