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Blessed Mhlanga, a senior journalist with Alpha Media Holdings, is currently facing charges for allegedly transmitting data messages that incite violence, the case has sparked widespread concern among journalists and online content creators, who argue that this is an assault on journalism as a whole.
Zimbabwe Online Content Creator chairperson Toneo Toneo spoke out against the charges, stating that “This is not a Blessed Mhlanga case, but this is an assault against journalism as a whole sector and we hope the courts will find sense as learned advocates on this issue because this purely journalism and cannot be criminalized.”
Toneo emphasized that journalists like Mhlanga are simply doing their job, and that criminalizing their work will have severe repercussions for the industry. “Our hope and faith goes to the judiciary system that they concur that this was just journalism which needs to be defended and protected because if this is allowed to go unchecked it will have a strong repercussion as far as content creation and journalism is concerned.”
Mhlanga’s bail application has been scheduled to continue on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at the Harare Magistrates Courts.
The case has drawn attention to the challenges faced by journalists in Zimbabwe, who often face harassment and intimidation for doing their job.
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