TRUTH IS NOT TERRORISM — WHY ZIMBABWE IS STILL NOT FREE

In Zimbabwe today, truth has become a dangerous thing. Speaking out is now seen as a crime. Saying the truth, writing the truth, or even asking hard questions can put you in jail. This is what is happening under Emmerson Mnangagwa, the man who promised change in 2017 after Robert Mugabe. But instead of freedom, we got more fear, more arrests, and more silence.

The recent case of journalist Blessed Mhlanga shows how bad things have become. He spent 72 days in jail. Why? Because he interviewed a ZANU PF member, Blessed Geza, who spoke bad things about Mnangagwa. That was enough to get Mhlanga locked up. The government said he was trying to cause violence. But all he did was his job — report what someone said.

They used the Criminal Law Act to charge him. Worse, they sent the Counter-Terrorism Unit after him. This shows that the government now sees journalists like terrorists. They want to scare every other reporter. They want the press to stop asking questions.

Blessed Mhlanga was arrested just before World Press Freedom Day. And he was released just three days after that day. That is not a mistake. The government only did it to look good to the world. But inside the country, nothing has changed. Journalists are still not safe. The truth is still treated like poison.

This is not the first time this has happened. Many journalists in Zimbabwe have been beaten, followed, or jailed. Some have been charged without a proper trial. The courts say they are fair. But we can see they are not. Mhlanga had to go to court three times to get bail. Why did they say no the first two times? What changed? Nothing. That is not justice. That is punishment.

People now fear the courts. The law is no longer used to protect us. It is now used to control us. The leaders use it like a stick to beat anyone who speaks out. They don’t care about truth or justice. They only care about power.

In a normal country, getting bail is not a big deal. It is your right. But in Zimbabwe, we cheer when someone gets bail. That’s how low the bar has fallen. Even small rights like talking or writing have become big problems.

Mhlanga is out on bail, but his case is still open. That means he is still not free. He can still go back to jail. Other journalists see this and they start to fear. They ask themselves, “Will I be next?” That is the goal — fear. When people are afraid, they stay quiet.

The fact that a journalist was handled by the Counter-Terrorism Unit is very scary. It shows how far the government is ready to go. If truth is called terrorism, then lies become the law. That is dangerous for everyone.

There are many bad laws like the Patriotic Act and the Peace and Order Act. These laws are not for peace. They are for silence. They stop people from speaking. They are used to punish, not protect.

And we must not forget, Mnangagwa once needed the media. When Mugabe removed him, the press gave him a voice. But now that he is in power, he turns around and attacks the same press. That shows he has no values. He only cares about himself.

Bail is not freedom. Mhlanga is still at risk. And so are we. Until the case is closed and the charges are gone, there is no justice. We must not be fooled. We must keep speaking.

Journalism is not a crime. Truth is not terrorism. Zimbabwe is not yet free.

It is not yet Uhuru.