Harare – Rights group, Amnesty International has called for the Zimbabwe government to release journalist Blessed Mhlanga who has spent more than a month in remand prison.
Mhlanga has now spent 37 days in prison after he was denied bail. He is facing charges of transmitting data that incite violence.
“Day 37 our @bbmhlanga remains behind bars, he has been denied bail. Bail is a right – Constitution section 50(d) must be released unconditionally,” Amnesty said on X.
“Journalism is not a crime and media practitioners should be able to discharge their professional duties without fear of reprisals.”
Mhlanga, a senior journalist with Alpha Media Holdings.
Police arrested him for interviewing war veteran Blessed Geza who has called for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to step down.
On Monday scores of people protested in several parts of the country after Geza called people to protest to push Mnangagwa out of power.
Amnesty said Blessed Mhlanga’s detention is arbitrary and in contravention of Zimbabwe’s constitutional and international obligations to respect and uphold the right of everyone to freedom of expression and press freedom.
Well-wishers set up a GoFundMe campaign with a target of £10 000 to help Mhlanga’s family at this difficult time.