THERE was heavy police presence at the Harare Magistrates Court yesterday where a bail ruling was expected for Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) senior journalist Blessed Mhlanga, who is facing two counts of inciting public violence.
The ruling was deferred to today after the magistrate handling the case Farai Gwatima did not turn up due to personal commitments.
Mhlanga appeared before magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa clad in the khaki prison garb.
The Heart & Soul TV (HStv) head of news, who is being charged with transmitting messages to incite public violence, has been in remand prison since Monday when he was arrested after handing himself to the police.
He is being represented by Chris Mhike.
Mhlanga is denying the charge, arguing that heis being persecuted for practising his profession.
His lawyer has accused the State of treating Mhlanga like a terrorist.
Mhike said the police were unprofessional in the way they handled the matter after inviting Mhlanga three times for questioning.
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“. . . And on each occasion, they released him saying there was no case,” he submitted.
The State is opposing bail saying Mhlanga may interfere with investigations or commit a similar offence.
The State alleged that on two separate dates this year, Mhlanga broadcast content deemed harmful to public peace.
The alleged content quoting outspoken war veteran and Zanu PF central committee member Blessed “Bombshell” Geza was broadcast on AMH’s terrestrial television station, HStv.
AMH are the publishers of daily NewsDay, weeklies The Standard and Zimbabwe Independent.
It is alleged that on January 27 this year Mhlanga recorded the video inciting public violence and uploaded it on YouTube.
The court heard that the video included the following statements: “It is clear that (President Emmerson) Mnangagwa has failed. He is not fit to run this country and his time to go is now. We ask him to go peacefully.
“If he refuses to take heed of this advice, we have no option, but to ask the people of Zimbabwe to deal with a rogue President . . . You think we are fools, go peacefully . . . If you think this is a joke, it’s your fault, resign ‘peacefully’ . . .”
The prosecution also alleged that on February 11 this year, Mhlanga broadcast a video on the same internet platform allegedly also seeking to incite public violence.
Mhlanga’s bail ruling was attended by scores of colleagues, human rights’ lawyers, politicians, among other citizens.
Media rights groups have called for for Mhlanga’s release.
Meanwhile, New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has joined the call for Mhlanga’s unconditional release.
“It is absolutely shameful that Blessed Mhlanga has been thrown behind bars simply because he gave voice to a war veteran’s criticism of Zimbabwe’s government,” said CPJ Africa programme co-ordinator, Muthoki Mumo, in Nairobi.
“Zimbabwean authorities should free Mhlanga unconditionally and respond to their citizens’ concerns, rather than punishing the messenger.”
