Police summon AMH journalist Senior Journalist
3 Feb, 2025
What happened
On Monday, the police summoned Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) journalist Blessed Mhlanga to the law enforcement agency’s offices in unclear circumstances.
Mhlanga, the head of broadcast at Heart and Soul Broadcasting Services, arrived at the police’s law and order section accompanied by lawyer Chris Mhike, who MISA Zimbabwe had deployed.
However, when they got to the police station, the officers claimed they wanted to ask Mhlanga about the status of his case with incarcerated politician Terence Mukupe.
In that case, Mukupe was accused of assaulting the journalist in a radio studio during a live political debate in May 2018.
Mukupe was also accused of forcibly seizing a mobile phone that belonged to Mhlanga’s wife.
The two incidents resulted in both criminal and civil legal proceedings being instituted by Mhlanga against Mukupe.
The civil matter was resolved in June 2018 when a magistrate in Harare ordered Mukupe to return the phone to its rightful owner.
A few months later, the criminal cases between the two terminated through mutual agreement.
Speculation was rife that Mhlanga had been summoned to the police for covering some of the country’s political stories.
MISA's position
MISA Zimbabwe is relieved that Mhlanga was released without any charges being preferred against him after MISA deployed its Media Lawyers’ Network member and triggered the Police Media Action plan.
However, the manner in which he was summoned is quite chilling and only serves to inculcate a culture of self-censorship. The police could have found other means to ascertain the status of the previous cases mentioned above.
The media sector and the police have built a good working relationship in the past few years, and we urge law enforcement officers to use the Police Media Action Plan.
This mechanism promotes a cordial relationship between the police and the media in an effort to improve the safety of journalists.
About MISA
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) was founded in 1992. Its work focuses on promoting, and advocating for, the unhindered enjoyment of freedom of expression, access to information and a free, independent, diverse and pluralistic media.
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Those affected:
Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) journalist Blessed Mhlanga
Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) journalist Blessed Mhlanga
Number affected:
1
1
Perpetrators:
politician Terence Mukupe
politician Terence Mukupe
Types of actors:
Non-state
Non-state
Location:
Harare
Harare