HARARE, March 5, (NewsDay Live) - The recent arrest of Heart & Soul Television (HSTv) head of news Blessed Mhlanga on allegations of inciting public violence has attracted global attention with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) urging authorities in Harare to immediately drop the charges and release him.
Mhlanga was arrested on February 25 and remanded in custody to March 14 by a Harare magistrate, who denied him bail.
Local and regional media freedom lobby groups have condemned the arrest describing it as an act of intimidation and harassment of journalists by the State.
In a solidarity message, IFJ general secretary Anthony Bellanger said the arrest of journalists under "vague and rogue criminal charges" could lead to self-censorship among media personnel.
He urged authorities in Harare to respect their obligations in defending media freedom.
“Journalist Blessed Mhlanga has committed no crime and his arrest and detention is a travesty of justice,” Ballanger said.
“ Intimidating and harassing journalists and the media in general with vague and rogue criminal charges that undermine their constitutional rights only leads to self- censorship, which has a negative effect on quality journalism.”
He called on the Zimbabwe government to move away from its past media repression era and create a conducive environment for the media to flourish.
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Mhlanga faces two counts of contravening Section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which relates to the transmission of data messages inciting violence or damage to property.
The charges are in relation to his coverage of two Press conferences addressed war veteran and ruling Zanu PF party member Blessing Geza, where the latter called on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to step down immediately for allegedly ruining the economy.
Last week, Mhlanga’s lawyer Chris Mhike accused the State of criminalising journalism by equating it to terrorism.
