The lawyer for Heart & Soul TV reporter Blessed Mhlanga spoke up Friday about officials labeling his case as a security threat. Chris Mhike asked why they did this, but Magistrate Isheanesu Matova claimed it was just for paperwork reasons. Mhike told the court that Mhlanga needs to take an important test on March 19 as part of his studies. He asked if prison officers could watch Mhlanga during the exam.
Matova resisted this request, saying he lacked the power to approve it. He stated he must stick to what the law allows him to do. Despite this claim, Mhike argued the court absolutely has the authority to let Mhlanga take his test. The judge then delayed the case until April 4, keeping Mhlanga behind bars longer.
Famous reporter Hopewell Chin'ono believes the government arrested Mhlanga to shut him up. Chin'ono pointed out that Mhlanga will spend another weekend locked up for something he never did. His real offense? Interviewing Jealousy Mawarire, who revealed corruption at the POSB bank connected to Zimbabwe's president during a TV show hosted by Mhlanga.
Chin'ono called this approach both oppressive and theft-driven. He highlighted how Mhlanga had spent almost three weeks in jail simply for talking to someone who exposed wrongdoing. According to Chin'ono, this shows how President Mnangagwa and ZANU-PF have turned government agencies into weapons against critics and reporters who investigate corruption.
Matova resisted this request, saying he lacked the power to approve it. He stated he must stick to what the law allows him to do. Despite this claim, Mhike argued the court absolutely has the authority to let Mhlanga take his test. The judge then delayed the case until April 4, keeping Mhlanga behind bars longer.
Famous reporter Hopewell Chin'ono believes the government arrested Mhlanga to shut him up. Chin'ono pointed out that Mhlanga will spend another weekend locked up for something he never did. His real offense? Interviewing Jealousy Mawarire, who revealed corruption at the POSB bank connected to Zimbabwe's president during a TV show hosted by Mhlanga.
Chin'ono called this approach both oppressive and theft-driven. He highlighted how Mhlanga had spent almost three weeks in jail simply for talking to someone who exposed wrongdoing. According to Chin'ono, this shows how President Mnangagwa and ZANU-PF have turned government agencies into weapons against critics and reporters who investigate corruption.
