A Zimbabwean High Court has denied bail to journalist Blessed Mhlanga, who has been detained for 25 days after interviewing a former ruling party member who called for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to step down. Mhlanga’s arrest, on February 24, has drawn attention to growing concerns over press freedom and government repression amid Zimbabwe’s ongoing economic crisis.
The High Court’s ruling, issued on Friday, upheld a lower court’s decision to keep Mhlanga in jail, citing the potential risk that he could interfere with the investigation or influence witnesses. The journalist was arrested after interviewing Blessed Geza, a prominent independence war veteran and outspoken critic of Mnangagwa’s attempts to extend his presidency beyond 2028.
Mhlanga, in a message read by his lawyer Doug Coltart, stated that his journalistic work aims to inform the public and strengthen Zimbabwe, asserting that he does not take sides but seeks to provide critical information.
The case highlights the escalating clampdown on dissent in Zimbabwe, where critics of the government often face intimidation and legal challenges.
Sources: Reuters, Doug Coltart
