Staff Reporter
Harare—The Zimbabwe Republic Police’s (ZRP’s) Law and Order section has activated a high-powered operation to arrest Blessed “Dhara” Mhlanga, the Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) digital editor and head of broadcasting, following his criticism of the government for systematic media repression in Geneva, trusted sources have reported.
Mhlanga was one of the panelists comprising human rights defenders, political prisoners and activists who spoke at the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on 18 February.
His presentation was titled “Silenced for Reporting: Zimbabwe’s War on the Press”.
During his speech, Mhlanga challenged reports that Zimbabwe was democratising, arguing that repression in Zimbabwe had merely changed form following the November 2027 military assisted power takeover that removed the late Robert Mugabe and replaced him with the current president, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Mhlanga, who heads AMH’s online television station, Heart and Soul TV, insisted that the government was targeting watchdog journalists through “lawfare”, a term that refers to the manipulation of laws and court processes to silence critics.
He used the platform to appeal for international support to bring the Zimbabwe government to account for its political violations, vowing: “I will stay in Zimbabwe…because I believe in my country”.
In February 2025, Mhlanga conducted an interview with Blessed Geza, the late war veteran and fierce Mnangagwa critic on his talk show, FreeTalk.
This led to his arrest on 24 February for alleged incitement of unrest and imprisonment for 73 days before he was remanded out of custody.
He was charged under Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for “transmitting data messages that incite violence or damage to property”.
Mhlanga, who this publication struggled to contact, was supposed to appear in court today (Monday) for his next appearance but, sources told this publication, he may fail to do so because he was recently hospitalised at an undisclosed hospital.
It has been established that a warrant of arrest was issued against Mhlanga today for failing to appear in court.
Representing the journalist, his lawyers Doug Coltart and Chris Mhike tendered a medical report indicating that Mhlanga was seeking medical treatment in South Africa but the State insisted that it needed to verify the medical report first.
Close and trusted sources reported that the Law and Order unit, headed by a named senior detective inspector, had planned to swoop on Mhlanga at the Harare Magistrates Court after his appearance.
The unit has reportedly already prepared charges against Mhlanga and downloaded his Geneva speech to use as evidence against him.
Simultaneously, this publication was told, a sting counterintelligence team had been deployed to the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport to arrest the senior journalist upon arrival.
An authoritative contact who cannot be named for security and professional reasons indicated that the police want to charge him under Section 22A of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act now commonly referred to as the” Patriot Act.
Under this section, individuals or entities can be prosecuted for “wilfully injuring the sovereignty and national interest of Zimbabwe” by actively participating in meetings, communication or cooperation with foreign governments or their agents”.
If convicted, one is likely to serve a long prison sentence, lose citizenship and voting rights and be banned from holding public office.
In June 2025, though, the High Court ruled that the “Patriot Act”—Section 22A(3) precisely—was unconstitutional because it violated the freedoms of expression and association as well as political rights.
If arrested, Mhlanga may be hauled in for yet another long term in prison.
When reached for a comment, national police spokesperson, Paul Nyathi, said he was in a meeting.