ZIMBABWE: RELEASE ARBITRARILY DETAINED JOURNALIST

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]