JOURNALISTS ARE NOT TERRORISTS IN ZIMBABWE

In 2017 Emmerson Mnangagwa said he would bring a new time to Zimbabwe. He said there would be freedom, jobs, and respect for the people. Many hoped things would change after Robert Mugabe. But today we see the truth. His rule is just the same old system with a new face. In some ways it is even worse. Now speaking the truth can send you to prison.

The story of journalist Blessed Mhlanga shows this very well. He was arrested after he spoke to ZANU PF member Blessed Geza. In that interview Geza criticised Mnangagwa. That was his sin. Blessed Mhlanga did not carry a gun. He did not burn a building. He did not call for war. He only did his job as a reporter. Still, the state said he wanted to start violence.

They charged him under the Criminal Law Act. They even gave his case to the Counter Terrorism Unit. This is a unit that must deal with bombs and real danger. But in the new Zimbabwe, truth is treated like a bomb. A microphone is treated like a weapon. This is how far the regime has gone. They now see every honest voice as an enemy of the state.

Blessed Mhlanga spent seventy two days in prison. Seventy two long days away from his family and work. He was locked up like a dangerous criminal. All for an interview. This arrest happened just days before World Press Freedom Day. He then got bail three days after that day. This timing is not a mistake. It looks like a public show. The government wanted to pretend they respect press freedom while they crush it in real life.

We must be clear. Bail is not a gift from the state. It is a basic right. In a normal country it is not news. But in Zimbabwe, getting bail feels like winning a big prize. That is how broken things are. For Mhlanga to get this simple right it took three court visits. At first the courts said he could disturb peace or scare witnesses. What had changed when they finally gave him bail? Nothing. Only the script of the show had changed.

Many other journalists have gone through the same pain. Some are beaten. Some are watched every day. Some face fake charges for years. Our courts like to say they are independent. But people no longer believe this. When courts repeat the language of the ruling party, they stop being courts and become tools.

Today the law in Zimbabwe is a weapon in the hand of the powerful. Laws like the Patriotic Act and the Peace and Order Act are used to silence people. They are not about peace. They are about control and fear. The message is simple. If they can do this to a known journalist, they can do it to anyone.

Mnangagwa himself once needed the media when he was fighting Mugabe. Back then journalists were useful to him. Now the same press is treated like an enemy. This shows he has no real values. He only cares about power and praise.

Blessed Mhlanga is out of prison, but he is not free. His case is still open. Any day they can drag him back to court. This is meant to scare all of us into silence. But we must not give in. Journalism is not a crime. Truth is not terrorism. As long as reporters are treated like enemies, Zimbabwe is not free. It is not yet Uhuru. We must keep fighting for true freedom.