/ / Urgent Action: RELEASE ARBITRARILY DETAINED JOURNALIST [Zimbabwe 29.25]

RELEASE ARBITRARILY DETAINED JOURNALIST [Zimbabwe 29.25]

UA: 29.25 Zimbabwe

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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.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION BEFORE SEPTEMBER 26, 2025

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Remember to send your letter by September 26, 2025.

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Sample Letter

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.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

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Step 2

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Mail your letter to the government officials listed below. You can also email, fax, call, or post about them on social media.

Send your letter to:

Honorable Ziyambi Ziyambi, Minister of Justice, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs

Mgandane Dlodlo Building (New Gvt Complex)

Cnr Samora Machel Avenue & Simon Vengesai

Harare, Zimbabwe

Emails:

[email protected]

@MoJLPA

and

CC: Embassy of Zimbabwe in the United States, Deputy Chief of Mission and Head of Chancery Mrs. Sarah Bhoroma

1608 New Hampshire Avenue, NW,

Washington DC 20009

[email protected]

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