BLESSED MHLANGA GRANTED BAIL AFTER 71 DAYS: A SMALL VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY IN SADC

Today marks a significant moment for democracy and press freedom in Southern Africa, particularly in Zimbabwe. After 71 long and painful days in punitive pre-trial detention, award-winning journalist Blessed Mhlanga has finally been granted bail, set at a staggering US$500. While this may seem like a routine legal procedure to some, for those who understand the political climate in Zimbabwe, this is a major development in the ongoing struggle for freedom of expression and human rights in the region.

Mhlanga’s case is not just about one man. It’s about the State’s systematic use of colonial-style tactics to suppress dissent, silence watchdogs, and cripple the independent media. His 71-day incarceration without trial was not just legally unjustified—it was a message from the regime to every journalist, activist, and citizen: speak out, and you too can vanish behind bars.

This is the harsh reality of life under a government that claims to be democratic, yet continues to behave like the Rhodesian regime it replaced. Pre-trial detention—when abused—becomes punishment without conviction. In Mhlanga’s case, the State used the judicial system as a tool of political persecution, not justice.

Under any fair and just system, “innocent until proven guilty” is more than just a slogan—it is the cornerstone of justice. But in Zimbabwe, this principle is being eroded daily. Mhlanga’s prolonged detention without trial was a direct attack on this core tenet of the law. It is an insult to the Constitution of Zimbabwe and an embarrassment to the entire SADC region, which continues to turn a blind eye to these flagrant violations.

Blessed Mhlanga is not a criminal. He is a journalist—one of the best in the country. His only crime is asking uncomfortable questions and publishing uncomfortable truths. For that, he was locked up, deprived of liberty, and treated worse than actual criminals.

Yet today, even as we celebrate his release on bail, we must not forget that he is still not free. Bail is not freedom. It is conditional liberty, hanging by a thread. The charges remain, and so does the threat. This is how repressive regimes operate—they loosen the leash just enough to avoid international backlash, while keeping their critics on edge and under surveillance.

But if the intention was to break his spirit, it has failed. Mhlanga’s courage and resilience throughout this ordeal have inspired many, both inside and outside Zimbabwe. His struggle has exposed the deep cracks in Zimbabwe’s so-called democracy, and reminded us all that journalism is not a crime—it is a public service.

This is a big day for democracy in the SADC region, not because justice was served, but because the people pushed back. Civil society, fellow journalists, international observers, and citizens refused to let this injustice go unnoticed. The pressure worked, and today, one man walks out of prison a symbol of defiance and hope.

But the fight is not over.

We must continue to demand justice—not just for Blessed Mhlanga, but for every journalist, activist, and ordinary citizen who is silenced, harassed, or jailed for simply exercising their constitutional rights. SADC must wake up. Africa must wake up. We cannot call ourselves free while our truth-tellers are behind bars.

Blessed Mhlanga may be out on bail today—but Zimbabwe, and indeed the region, is still on trial.