The Harare High Court is set to hear an appeal on Monday, March 10, from Alpha Media Holdings senior journalist, Blessed Mhlanga, following the denial of his bail by Harare Magistrate Farai Gwitima.
Mhlanga, represented by Chris Mhike from Atherstone & Cook, is challenging the magistrate’s ruling that denied him bail. He argues that the decision was made without sufficient grounds to justify his ongoing detention.
In his appeal, Mhlanga asserts that the lower court incorrectly assumed that, as a senior political reporter, he might interfere with witnesses solely because some of his colleagues could be called to testify. He also claims that the magistrate mistakenly equated consent to remand with an admission of guilt or reasonable suspicion.
Additionally, Mhlanga points out that the magistrate disregarded his denial of the charges during the bail hearing, particularly his denial of transmitting the controversial messages.
Mhlanga was arrested on February 24, 2025, after voluntarily surrendering to the police. He faces accusations of inciting violence and transmitting data that could potentially lead to property damage.
These charges are linked to his coverage of press conferences held by Blessed “Bombshell” Geza, a war veteran and critic of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, where Geza called for the President’s resignation due to alleged corruption, incompetence, and mismanagement.
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