FIFTY DAYS TOO LONG: FREE BLESSED MHLANGA NOW
Today is 50 days since Zimbabwean journalist Blessed Mhlanga was thrown in jail. He is not in jail because he did something wrong. He is not in jail because he broke any law. He is in jail because he is a journalist who told the truth.
Mhlanga was arrested for doing his job. He is a reporter. His job is to tell people what is happening in the country. But in Zimbabwe, telling the truth can get you arrested. That is what happened to Mhlanga. He is now locked up at Harare Remand Prison. This prison is one of the worst in the country. It is dirty. It is crowded. It is full of sick people. There is not enough food. People sleep on the floor. It smells bad. It is hard to breathe. Nobody should be kept there, especially someone who has not been found guilty.
Mhlanga has asked the courts to give him bail many times. Bail means he can stay at home while waiting for his trial. But every time he asked, the court said no. In Zimbabwe, courts are often used to punish people before the trial. That is what is happening to Mhlanga. He has not had a trial. But he is already suffering.
This is not just about one journalist. It is about the freedom of all journalists. In Zimbabwe, many reporters are now afraid. They are scared they will be arrested. They are scared they will be beaten. They are scared they will be jailed like Mhlanga. But journalists are important. They help us know what is going on. Without them, we are all blind. Without them, there is no truth.
Zimbabwe has a very bad record on human rights. The people of Zimbabwe do not have real freedom. The government does not listen. Elections are full of lies and tricks. Many people are hungry. Many people have no job. Prices go up every day. Life is hard. People are tired. They want change.
Since 1980, Zanu PF has ruled Zimbabwe. At first, it was a party of hope. It helped bring independence. But now, it is a party of fear. It is full of corruption. It does not care about the people anymore. It wants to stay in power by force. It does not want anyone to speak out. It does not want anyone to ask questions.
This is why Mhlanga is in jail. Because he asked questions. Because he told the truth. Because he did not stay quiet. The government wants to scare other journalists. It wants to send a message: if you speak out, you will suffer.
But this is wrong. Journalists are not the enemy. Journalists are not criminals. They are not dangerous. They are just doing their job. Mhlanga did not steal anything. He did not hurt anyone. He just wrote news. But for that, he is in prison.
The world must wake up. Human rights groups must speak louder. Foreign leaders must ask: why is a journalist in jail? Zimbabwe must be told: this is not right. This is not freedom. This is not justice.
Fifty days is too much. Blessed Mhlanga must be freed now. He should be with his family. He should be back at work. Journalism is not a crime. Truth is not a crime. But in Zimbabwe today, it is treated like one.
We must not forget him. We must not stay quiet. We must say it again and again: Free Blessed Mhlanga.
Zimbabwe is a sovereign nation. We don’t need foreigners or activists telling us how to apply our laws. Journalists must respect national security concerns. This is not about truth, it’s about pushing an agenda. Many so-called journalists work with foreign forces to destabilise our country and hide behind press freedom.
Fifty days in remand for reporting the truth is an outrage. Mhlanga’s case shows how broken our justice system has become. Journalism is not a crime. Thank you for keeping this story alive. We must not forget the cost of speaking truth in Zimbabwe. Mhlanga represents all of us who want justice. This article exposes the cruelty of a regime that fears facts. When reporters are jailed for doing their job, it means we are all in danger. Mhlanga’s story should wake us up. We cannot claim to be free while journalists are treated like criminals. The call is clear: Free Blessed Mhlanga now.
Blessed Mhlanga isn’t above the law. Just because he’s a journalist doesn’t mean he can say whatever he wants without consequences. Freedom comes with responsibility. If he was truly innocent, the courts would have released him. This emotional article ignores facts and assumes guilt on the part of the state without evidence.