Mhlanga Takes Press Freedom Battle to ConCourt
Detained Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) journalist, Blessed Mhlanga, has escalated his legal fight to the Constitutional Court, challenging the legality of his arrest under Zimbabwe’s Cyber and Data Protection Act (CDPA).
Mhlanga, who has been languishing in remand prison for over a month, is seeking the apex court’s intervention after repeated bail denials by both the Magistrates’ Court and the High Court.
The HStv anchor faces allegations of broadcasting content deemed offensive to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, after a segment featuring controversial Zanu PF war veteran, Blessed Geza, aired on his program.
Authorities claim Geza used the platform to hurl insults at Mnangagwa and call for his removal, leading to Mhlanga’s arrest under the CDPA.
Now, in a legal showdown, Mhlanga is suing Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Information Minister Jenfan Muswere, and Attorney General Prince Machaya, arguing that his arrest violates constitutional rights to free expression and media freedom.
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Through his lawyer, Chris Mhike, Mhlanga argues that the CDPA provisions under which he was charged contradict Zimbabwe’s Constitution, specifically Section 61 (freedom of expression and media freedom) and Section 62 (access to information).
“Every person has the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to seek, receive, and communicate ideas,” reads part of Mhlanga’s court papers.
He further asserts that the protection of journalists’ sources is a fundamental pillar of press freedom, yet his arrest sets a dangerous precedent for media practitioners in Zimbabwe.
Mhlanga’s legal bid calls on the Constitutional Court to scrutinize the CDPA, arguing that its application in his case is being used as a political weapon to silence dissenting voices in the media.
Observers and media watchdogs have strongly condemned Mhlanga’s arrest and prolonged detention, warning that it signals a regression in press freedom under Mnangagwa’s administration.
His case has drawn sharp criticism from local and international press organizations, with many accusing the government of using repressive laws to intimidate journalists.
—Zimlive
