TAKE ACTION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

RELEASE ARBITRARILY DETAINED JOURNALIST, BLESSED MHLANGA

Zimbabwe 29.25

On February 24, journalist, Blessed Mhlanga, was arrested and charged with “transmitting data messages that incite violence or damage to property”. Prior to his arrest, he had interviewed a war veteran and senior member of the ruling Zanu-PF party, who criticized President Mnangagwa. The authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Blessed Mhlanga as he is detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights. Authorities must drop all the charges against him. 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.

Urge the Minister of Justice, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs, Honorable Ziyambi Ziyambi, to release Blessed Mhlanga - send your email using our email-writing tool.

YOUR INFORMATION

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Address

Apt., Ste., Bldg.

City

State

Postal Code

Country

Phone Number (Optional)

By providing your mobile number, you are signing up to receive calls, recurring messages from Amnesty International USA at 213-33. Repy STOP to quit. Msg and data rates may apply. Privacy & Terms.

Postal Address Sharing

Do not exchange my postal address with other organizations.

Customize your message

Minister of Justice

Ziyambi

Zimbabwe Minister of Justice, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs

Minister of Justice

Ziyambi

Zimbabwe Minister of Justice, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs

Dear Honorable Ziyambi Ziyambi,

I am writing to express grave concern about the arbitrary detention of journalist, Blessed Mhlanga.

Blessed Mhlanga’s arbitrary detention appears to be linked to an interview he conducted with war veteran and former member of Zanu-PF central committee, Blessed Geza, on January 27 and February 11 respectively, who criticized President Mnangagwa and demanded his resignation for failing to address allegations of corruption and the deteriorating economic conditions in the country.

Blessed Mhlanga’s arrest and continued detention violates his rights to liberty, freedom of expression, and media freedom.

I call on you and other authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Blessed Mhlanga, as he is detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights and drop all the charges against him. I further urge you and other authorities to uphold and ensure respect for the human rights of everyone in the country including the right to freedom of expression and media freedom as enshrined in Zimbabwe’s Constitution and the country’s international human rights treaties such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Zimbabwe is a state party.

Kind regards,
{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}