MNANGAGWA’S REGIME STILL FEARS THE TRUTH

The government of Zimbabwe is not changing. Even after removing Robert Mugabe in 2017, President Emmerson Mnangagwa is not doing things better. Instead, he is using the same tricks to silence people who speak the truth. He wants to control everything, including the media, the courts, and anyone who dares to challenge him.

Journalist Blessed Mhlanga is the latest victim of this system. He was arrested on 24 February 2025 and kept in jail for 72 days. His only crime was doing his job — interviewing someone who spoke against Mnangagwa. That person, Blessed Geza, is a war veteran and a member of ZANU PF, the ruling party. In the interview, Geza said Mnangagwa was corrupt and should step down. Mhlanga was arrested for airing that interview. The government said he was “inciting violence.”

This is not just a small case. Mhlanga’s case shows a bigger problem in Zimbabwe. Under Mnangagwa, the government is using the law to attack journalists, human rights defenders, and opposition members. The police who investigated Mhlanga were not normal officers. The case was handled by the Counter-Terrorism Unit. That shows the government sees journalism as a threat, almost like terrorism.

Mhlanga’s release on bail came only after three court appearances. On 6 May 2025, High Court Judge Gibson Mandaza finally gave him bail. The judge said things had “changed,” like the case file being ready and time passing. But these things were true from the beginning. Why did the court take so long? Why did they first say releasing Mhlanga would cause problems in the country?

This is why many people believe the courts are no longer fair. They seem to follow orders from the government. Instead of giving justice, they now protect those in power. That is dangerous for any country. People lose trust when courts act like part of the ruling party.

Also, the timing of Mhlanga’s bail is important. It happened just three days after World Press Freedom Day. That makes people think the government was feeling pressure from outside the country. Maybe they were scared of what the world was saying about them. So they let Mhlanga go, not because they wanted to, but because they had to.

But being out on bail does not mean Mhlanga is free. He still has charges hanging over his head. He is still being treated like a criminal. This is a message to all journalists: do your job and risk going to jail.

In a normal country, getting bail is not a big win. It is your right. But in Zimbabwe, even getting bail feels like a fight. That shows how far the country has fallen. The government is treating basic freedoms like gifts, only given to those they like. If they don’t like you, they will silence you.

The government is also passing more laws to control people. Laws like the Patriotic Act and the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act are being used to silence voices. These laws are not for peace. They are for control. They are meant to stop people from telling the truth.

The sad part is that Mnangagwa once needed the press. In 2017, when he was kicked out of ZANU PF, it was the same media — including Mhlanga — that gave him a chance to speak. Now, he is attacking them. This shows he only cares about power, not about freedom or justice.

We must not celebrate too early. Mhlanga is not yet free. Zimbabwe is not yet free. The fight is still on. Bail is not justice. The charges must be dropped. Journalists must be free to work without fear.

This is not just about one man. It is about every Zimbabwean’s right to speak, to know the truth, and to live in a free country. Until that day comes, we must keep fighting. It is not yet Uhuru.