Human Rights Watch asked Zimbabwe officials on Wednesday to stop using laws as weapons against news reporter Blessed Mhlanga. They want all charges against him thrown out. Police arrested Mhlanga, who works at the independent news channel Heart & Soul TV, back on February 24 in Harare. He has stayed locked up ever since.
The government charged him because he interviewed outspoken war veteran Blessed "Bombshell" Geza. During their talk, Geza called for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to quit. He blamed the president for giving jobs to family members, stealing money, and running the country badly.
"Zimbabwe leaders should free journalist Blessed Mhlanga right away and cancel all charges they brought against him just for doing his job," said Idriss Ali Nassah from Human Rights Watch. "These fake charges prove again that free speech and press freedom face danger in Zimbabwe."
Both courts refused to let Mhlanga out on bail. The first judge claimed that releasing him might cause nationwide trouble and hurt peace. When Mhlanga appealed to the High Court, those judges agreed with the first decision and kept him behind bars.
The government charged him because he interviewed outspoken war veteran Blessed "Bombshell" Geza. During their talk, Geza called for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to quit. He blamed the president for giving jobs to family members, stealing money, and running the country badly.
"Zimbabwe leaders should free journalist Blessed Mhlanga right away and cancel all charges they brought against him just for doing his job," said Idriss Ali Nassah from Human Rights Watch. "These fake charges prove again that free speech and press freedom face danger in Zimbabwe."
Both courts refused to let Mhlanga out on bail. The first judge claimed that releasing him might cause nationwide trouble and hurt peace. When Mhlanga appealed to the High Court, those judges agreed with the first decision and kept him behind bars.
