MEDIA HARASSMENT IN ZIMBABWE AND THE UNCONSTITUTIONALITY OF BLESSED MHLANGA' ARREST
The arrest of Blessed Mhlanga, a Zimbabwean prominent journalist for HStv owned by Alpha Media Holdings, by the Zimbabwe Republic Police(ZRP), on 24 February 2025, on spurious charges of transmission of data with intent to incite public violence or damage to property, for interviewing a rebellious ZANU PF central committee member, Blessed Geza, who on the day of interview condemned ZANU PF led government's failures under the leadership of Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, has been met with public outrage. Most Zimbabweans construed the actions of the State, as intimidation tactics on press freedom, and systemic media harassment. Many reverted to questioning the constitutionality of his arrest under such circumstances, and on the bases aforesaid fictitious accusations. Blessed Mhlanga is charged in terms of Section 164 Criminal Law (Codification & Reform) Act, and therein accused of transmission of data messages inciting violence or damage to property. The Cyber and Data Protection ...