Blessed Mhlanga was arrested while taking photographs of people that had converged for the launch of a youth organisation.
(MISA/IFEX) – Kwekwe-based journalist Blessed Mhlanga was, on 20 July 2011, arrested in Kwekwe while taking photographs of people that had converged to witness the launch of the Midlands Youth Dialogue organisation.
Mhlanga was bundled into a police truck and driven to the Kwekwe Central Police Station, where the photographs he had taken were deleted from his camera. He was questioned as to why he had taken the pictures. Scores of young Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) supporters had reportedly turned up for the event.
Mhlanga was only released after he produced his accreditation document identifying him as a journalist. He told MISA-Zimbabwe he was disturbed by the arbitrary police action.
The event, which was organised by the Zimbabwe Youths in Politics group, with American Ambassador Charles Ray as the guest speaker, was subsequently cancelled by the police.
