ROHR ZIMBABWE COMES TO THE AID OF BLESSED MHLANGA’S FAMILY DURING HIS INCARCERATION

By Information & Publicity Team 

18^th April 2025

In a typical case of lawfare by the regime in Harare, Blessed Mhlanga, a journalist with privately owned Heart and Soul Television, a part of Alpha Media Holdings (AMH), was detained on 24^th February 2025 on incitement charges. His “crime” was to interview Blessed Geza, the war veteran who popularly called for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s resignation.

Arbitrary arrest and detention are a violation of Article 9 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which reads, “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile”.

Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) further states that anyone arrested has the right to be brought promptly before a judge and should be released pending trial, unless there are good reasons to keep them in custody.

Also, according to Section 50(1)(d) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, bail is a constitutional right. Denial of bail should not be used to punish or pre-judge an accused, yet, 53 days after his detention and counting, Blessed Mhlanga has been denied bail thrice.

When a person is in Blessed Mhlanga’s predicament, they not only suffer physically and psychologically, but their finances are exhausted quickly, they lose earnings, and their families suffer big time as a result.

The UK Chapter of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe decided to mobilise funds to help Blessed Mhlanga’s family. It appealed for donations/contributions from its members. This evolved from a resolution passed in the Zoom meeting of the UK Chapter on 29^th March 2025.

The appeal went out on 29/03/2025 via WhatsApp, and £530 had been raised by 08/04/2025, thanks to the generosity of ROHR Zimbabwe members. 

We sent the £530 to Mrs Florence Mhlanga via Western Union on 08/04/2025. This was converted to USD 678.00, which she collected on 12/04/2025.

We invited Mrs Mhlanga to a bespoke WhatsApp group for only those who contributed on Monday, 14/04/2025, and we were able to interact with her before excusing her on 17/04/2025.

We shared the Western Union transfer details (MTCN) on the bespoke WhatsApp group.
For transparency purposes, we also shared the list of contributors with Mrs Mhlanga.

The following is the list of the ROHR Zimbabwe human rights activists who contributed to this fund;-

BLESSED MHLANGA CONTRIBUTIONS UPDATE - As of 09:00 hrs Tuesday 08/04/2025.

Vongayi Mufara  £20
Panyika Karimanzira  £25
Paradzai Mapfumo  £25
Charles Kanyimo  £10
Angeline Huni  £10
Nolanga E Ndlovu  £20
Tafadzwa Chivaura  £50
Mollin Muteto £10
Godfrey Mandibaya  £10
Xolisani Masuku  £10
Lilie Khanye  £20
Olivia Chamboko  £10
Lilian Nleya £10
Silvanos Mudzvova £25
Lorraine Zakeyo  £10
Paul Mukweza  £20
Harriet Ndlovu  £10
Marian Mangani  £20
Sandra S Chidemo £10
Weston Mupfururirwa £15
Farisai Kapepa £10
Delina Mutyambizi £15
Dickson Chikwizo £10
Michelle Mpofu £5
Vengai Mutsawu £5
Edineth Mtengwa  £20
Romancia Chiomba  £5
Prince Maisiri £5
Dulcie Munjeri £10
Memory Kishindo £5
Linda Mafu £10
Velisiwe Ndlovu £5
Mellisa Mbavarira £5
Shingirayi Kandi £5
Thenjiwe Ndlovu £10
Alvina Chibhamu £20
Phylis Magejo £5
Phyllis Chibanguza £10
Emily Mafuwe £20
Grace Makoni £10

Total = £530
Sent to Florence Mhlanga (to receive USD 678.00) via Western Union on Tuesday, 08/04/2025.

One of our members, Tawanda Matangambiri, contributed USD 10.00 via an ongoing GoFundMe, which is a separate initiative.

Message from Blessed Mhlanga and Family

“In my darkest hour, in the worst of times, you have stood with me and my family. My wife has made me aware of your selfless sacrifices and compassion.
It is these efforts from you that made me a journalist to speak for others and help build a selfless nation.
Being in prison is expensive, not only financially but emotionally and to family support.
Your contributions have lessened the burden on us.
To all those who contributed, may God bless you, and thank you for the solidarity and advocacy.

You are our family.

With love
Blessed and Florence Mhlanga and family”

We appreciate that this appeal was done on short notice due to the urgency of the matter.

Therefore, we extended the appeal to 30th April 2025 to give everyone a chance.

If anyone wants to contribute, please transfer to the ROHR Account details as follows;-

ROHR ZIMBABWE BANK DETAILS:-
Account Name: RESTORATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ZIMBABWE
Sort Code: 23-05-80
Account Number: 46330349

Parallel to the fundraising effort, we advocated for Blessed Mhlanga's release via our social media platforms.

Below are some of the links to our posts;-

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BkgDpsirb/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15vcgGLXrw/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DgudeW6wR/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15kFTkXfEK/
https://x.com/ROHRZimbabweorg/status/1911340133099397616?t=nO9XiApt41wzvAyH4Kb6nQ&s=19
https://x.com/rohrzimbabweorg/status/1912793686418522471?s=48

The following is the list of the ROHR Zimbabwe human rights activists who contributed to round 2 of 2 of this fund;-

Maruwiza Nkhambala £10
Tsitsi Margaret Nkosi £20
Renee Brenda Langa £10
Panyika Anselm Karimanzira £10
Frazor Muzondo £15
Henry Makambe £5
Weston Mupfururirwa £10
Mollin Muteto £10
Romancia Chiomba £5
Omega Mpofu Kadengu £10
Dickson Chikwizo £5
Harriet Ndlovu £10
Lorraine Zakeyo £5
Lilie Khanye £20
Shingirayi Kandi £5
Praisego M Moyo £10
Tatenda Mupfururirwa £10

Round 2 of 2 Total = £245.00
Sent it to Mrs Florence Mhlanga (Received USD 305.00) via Western Union on Thursday, 15 May 2025.

All in all, in rounds 1 and 2 combined, we contributed and sent £775 (USD 983.00).

We invited Blessed Mhlanga to our bespoke WhatsApp group after his release from prison, where all those who contributed towards this fund had an opportunity to interact with him.

He is a genuinely inspiring personality.

Inserted by;-
Information & Publicity Department
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe
Email: - humanrights@rohr-zimbabwe.org
Mobile: - +447538534375

Are the General Zimbabweans Independent?

By Vongayi Mufara

18^th April 2025

Today, 18^th April 2025, marks Zimbabwe's 45^th Independence Day—a moment to honour the hard-won freedom from colonial rule in 1980. Yet, decades later, we must ask: are ordinary Zimbabweans truly independent?

Independence is not just the lowering of a colonial flag. It is the right to live with dignity, access opportunities, speak freely, and be governed justly. For many Zimbabweans today, these rights remain a distant dream. Rampant corruption by ZANU-PF elites, the erosion of judicial independence, systemic unemployment, a collapsing healthcare system, and the brutal silencing of dissent paint a grim picture of a nation held hostage by its leadership.

So while Zimbabwe may be free on paper, the people are not truly free. Real independence means freedom from fear, hunger, and oppression—not just from foreign rulers, but from ZANU-PF tyranny as well. Until then, this day serves more as a reminder of the promises broken than of the freedom achieved by those who fought for it.

About the author
Vongayi Mufara is a human rights activist based in the United Kingdom. She is the Chairperson of the UK Chapter of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe and Organising Secretary of the Scotland Branch of the UK Chapter of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe.  She can be contacted by email at vongayi.mufara@rohr-zimbabwe.org

Zimbabwe’s Fight for Democracy: The People vs. Tyranny

4th April 2025

The people of Zimbabwe—the workers, students, journalists, activists, and everyday citizens—are being crushed under the weight of a brutal and corrupt regime led by Emmerson Mnangagwa. For decades, we have endured abductions, torture, economic sabotage, and silence enforced at gunpoint. As a human rights activist, I, Memory Kishindo, will not be silent. Our voices will rise, and we will not be intimidated into silence.

Zimbabwe is bleeding. Our hospitals have become death traps. Our schools are falling apart. Our youth are fleeing the country in desperation, while the elite dine in mansions and fly in private jets. What kind of country jails its citizens for demanding better? What kind of leadership kills to stay in power?

We remember 2008, when opposition supporters were hunted down, tortured, and murdered for daring to dream of change. That election was stolen with blood. We remember 2018, when Mnangagwa's army opened fire on civilians in broad daylight, killing six innocent souls during protests. Promises of justice were made, but none delivered. No soldier has been held accountable. Not one.

Today, nothing has changed—if anything, it’s worse. In February 2025, investigative journalist Blessed Mhlanga was arrested for doing what every ethical journalist should do: telling the truth. His crime? Conducting interviews with a war veteran who spoke out against the regime and reporting the reality of what many Zimbabweans endure. He now faces baseless charges under laws meant to silence dissent and protect the powerful. Like so many before him, he has become a target for simply refusing to be silent.

Zimbabwe has become a land where speaking the truth is a death sentence, where protesting for basic rights earns you a prison cell—or worse. Our people are starving, our dreams shattered, and yet the regime celebrates fake victories and stolen elections.

But we are not giving up. We are not turning back. The time to act is now. Every day we wait, more of us are lost to this tyranny. We have waited long enough. It is time to rise, to organize, to shout louder than ever before. The regime fears unity, it fears truth, and most of all—it fears a people who are no longer afraid.

We want a Zimbabwe where we can speak freely, live with dignity, and raise our children in peace. We want leaders who serve, not steal. We want freedom—not in slogans, but in reality.

The world must know: Zimbabwe is not free. But we will fight until it is.

About The Author: 

Memory Kishindo is a human rights activist based in the United Kingdom. She is a member of The UK Chapter of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe. She is also a member of CCC UK. She can be contacted by email at kishindomemory51@gmail.com