HARARE
–
Alpha
Media
Holdings
(AMH)
journalist
Blessed
Mhlanga
is
set
to
appeal
his
Friday
bail
denial
by
Harare
magistrate
Farai
Gwitima
who
remanded
to
scribe
in
custody
to
14
March
2025.
Mhlanga
is
accused
of
transmitting
information
that
incites
violence
following
interviews
with
Blessed
Geza,
a
war
veteran
currently
challenging
Mnangagwa’s
presidency.
Geza
went
into
hiding
after
the
police
issued
a
statement
stating
that
he
is
facing
arrest
for
inciting
public
violence
among
other
charges.
On
Friday,
Gwitima
turned
down
his
bail
application
ruling
that
the
prominent
journalist
was
likely
to
reoffend
and
interfere
with
witnesses
who
include
his
juniors
at
work.
The
magistrate
also
said
releasing
Mhlanga
will
result
in
civil
unrest
and
jeopardise
peace
in
Zimbabwe.
“What
is
an
issue
is
not
that
the
applicant
gathered
and
disseminated
information.
It
is
that
information
which
he
gathered
which
was
intended
to
incite
public
violence,”
the
magistrate
said.
“If
granted
bail,
he
is
likely
to
interfere.
Of
critical
importance
some
of
the
witnesses
have
not
been
recorded
hence
his
release
will
jeopardize
investigations.
“What
clearly
emerges
is
that
disseminated
messages
will
incite
violence.
Any
interpretation
to
the
contrary
will
be
incorrect.
“Accordingly,
the
release
of
the
accused
will
put
the
nation
in
unrest
and
undermine
peace
and
security.
“In
the
circumstances,
it
is
the
court’s
finding
that
the
state
has
managed
to
give
compelling
reasons
justifying
the
continued
detention
of
the
accused
person.
Accordingly,
bail
is
denied,”
the
magistrate
ruled.
Mhlanga’s
lawyer,
Chris
Mhike
said
they
are
not
happy
with
the
ruling.
Mhike
said
an
appeal
will
be
filed
at
the
High
Court.
“We
had
really
hoped
for
a
positive
outcome.
While
we
accept
the
decision,
we
must
make
it
clear
that
we
strongly
disagree
with
the
conclusion
and
the
determination
made
by
the
court.
“Accordingly,
we
have
been
instructed
to
appeal
this
decision
as
soon
as
possible,”
Mhike
said
in
an
interview
with
journalists
after
the
ruling.
AMH
publisher,
Trevor
Ncube,
who
attended
court
in
solidarity
with
his
senior
employee,
said
he
is
the
one
who
should
be
in
the
dock
instead.
He
also
accused
President
Mnangagwa
of
capturing
the
courts
adding
that
Mhlanga’s
situation
was
a
sad
time
for
Zimbabwean
media.
“Blessed
is
not
AMH.
He’s
just
a
journalist
practising
his
profession,
which
is
constitutionally
protected,
just
like
you
guys
are
doing
here,
broadcasting
to
the
public
at
home.
“You
can’t
be
accused
of
inciting
the
public
for
broadcasting
what
I’m
saying
right
now.
“I
am
the
one
who
should
be
brought
before
the
courts,
not
the
journalists
who
transmit
the
information.
So,
I’m
disappointed
in
that
regard,
but
this
is
reality
that
we
are
in
right
now,”
Ncube
said.
Meanwhile,
in
a
hand
written
letter
from
his
prison
cell,
Mhlanga
said
his
intimidation
shall
come
to
pass
adding
that
his
arrest
has
bolstered
him
to
do
more.
“There
is
a
mile
of
difference
between
writing
about
injustice
and
experiencing
it.
My
friends
and
I
now
have
the
benefit
of
it
both.
L
Madhuku
says
law
is
law
coz
its
law.
Just
or
unjust.
My
experience
teaches
me
that
an
unjust
law
is
no
law.
“Dear
friends,
prison
is
meant
to
break
you.
It
is
meant
to
change
you.
I
have
learnt
quite
to
the
contrary.
Prison
makes
you
more
resolute.
I
am
stronger
and
I
identify
more
with
you
than
ever
before.
“They
say
when
you
are
arrested,
you
are
alone.
That’s
not
true.
I
was
never
alone,
your
voices
were
with
me.
I
stood
proud
in
dark
hours.
My
wife,
my
family
were
with
me.
I
thank
you.
“To
those
behind
my
persecution,
including
prosecution
aiding
and
baking
injustice,
I
wish
to
say
the
sun
will
set.
It
won’t
last
forever,”
he
said.