Blessed Mhlanga was arrested after he responded to a police summons. Mhlanga works with the privately owned Heart and Soul TV and contributes to the newspaper NewsDay, both of which are owned by the private company Alpha Media Holdings (AMH).
Mhlanga said on the social media platform X that three armed men came to his office searching for him on February 17, 2025, soon after which the police called to ask him to come in for questioning. On February 21, the police issued astatement seeking information about Mhlanga’s whereabouts.
Mhlanga responded to the police summons on February 24 and was arrested on two counts of transmission of data messages “inciting violence or damage to property,” according to the Zimbabwe chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights network, and Mhlanga’s lawyer, Chris Mhike.
After delays in judicial processes and opposition prosecutors, Mhlanga was released on bail on May 7. In mid-July, the trial against Mhlanga and Olga Muteiwa, anAMH general manager who had since been added to the case, commencedwith both defendants pleading not guilty. Hearings in the trial were postponed several times in July and August. A separate constitutional court petition challenging Mhlanga’s arrest was also pending in mid-August.
National police spokesperson Paul Nyathi and national Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Angela Munyeriwa did not respond to CPJ’s calls or messages requesting comment in February and April.