Geneva Summit Coalition condemns Zimbabwe's threats against Blessed Mhlanga

The Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy coalition has called on the United Nations to take urgent action following alleged threats by the Government of Zimbabwe against journalist Blessed Mhlanga after he addressed delegates at the United Nations Office at Geneva on 17 February.

Mhlanga reportedly spoke about repression and restrictions on media freedom in Zimbabwe during the summit. Following his testimony, the state-owned daily The Herald published remarks attributed to Information Minister Zhemu Soda condemning the journalist's statements as "malicious." The Minister reportedly warned that Zimbabwe's so-called "patriotic clauses" prohibit engagement with foreign entities in ways considered harmful to the State.

In a separate development, a social media account on X, purporting to belong to Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu, claimed that a parliamentary motion would be pursued to cancel Mhlanga's passport over alleged "unpatriotic conduct."

However, Tshabangu stated in 2023 that he does not operate any social media accounts and that posts circulating under his name are from parody or impersonation accounts. It is understood that at least four X accounts have previously been disowned by Tshabangu, who said they were created by individuals impersonating him for personal gain.

The Geneva Summit coalition criticised what it described as threats of prosecution and restrictions on freedom of movement in retaliation for engagement with the UN.

"These are not abstract criticisms - they are threats of prosecution and restrictions on freedom of movement in retaliation for speaking at the United Nations," said Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, which leads the coalition. "No journalist or human rights defender should face criminal charges or passport revocation for cooperating with the UN."

The coalition has formally written to António Guterres, requesting that the matter be examined under the UN's reprisals framework. It also called on the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights to urgently engage Zimbabwe's government and urged that the case be included in the Secretary-General's next report on intimidation and reprisals.

"When individuals are threatened for addressing the United Nations, the credibility of the UN itself is at stake," Neuer added. "The Secretary-General must act swiftly and publicly to ensure that Mr. Mhlanga is protected."

The Geneva Summit is co-sponsored by 30 human rights non-governmental organisations worldwide and provides a platform at the United Nations for dissidents and victims of repression to address the international community directly.