HARARE
–
Alpha
Media
Holdings
(AMH)
journalist
Blessed
Mhlanga
has
been
denied
bail
in
his
third
freedom
bid
by
Harare
magistrate
Donald
Ndirowei.
Mhlanga
was
arrested
in
February
this
year
on
allegations
of
publishing
messages
that
incite
public
violence.
The
journalist
landed
in
custody
after
he
had
covered
press
conferences
held
by
namesake
Blessed
Geza,
the
now
self-exiled
former
Zanu
PF
central
committee
member
and
war
veteran
who
has
hit
the
news
recently
through
spirited
calls
for
an
uprising
against
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa.
On
Monday,
Ndirowei
dismissed
the
journalist’s
application
ruling
that
there
were
no
changed
circumstances
from
his
last
bail
bid.
“There
are
no
changed
circumstances
which
warrant
the
court
to
revisit
its
initial
ruling
and
grant
him
bail;
therefore,
the
accused
application
for
bail
is
hereby
dismissed,”
ruled
the
magistrate.
Mhlanga
had
been
denied
bail
by
both
the
magistrate
and
the
High
Courts.
The
lower
court
ruled
he
was
likely
to
interfere
with
witnesses
who
are
his
juniors
at
work.
The
court
also
said
his
release
would
cause
tensions
in
the
country.
The
High
Court
concurred
with
the
magistrate’s
ruling
that
there
was
no
need
to
depart
from
what
the
lower
court
had
said.
He
then
returned
to
the
magistrates’
court
with
a
fresh
bail
application.
Through
his
lawyer
Chris
Mhike,
Mhlanga
submitted
that
his
family
was
suffering
without
him.
Mhike
also
said
his
client
has
not
interfered
with
witnesses.
The
lawyer
also
said
there
has
been
no
progress
in
terms
of
investigations
adding
that
under
the
circumstances,
Mhlanga
deserved
to
be
set
free.
Appearing
for
the
State,
Anesu
Chirenje
said
investigations
were
almost
complete
adding
that
the
state
is
ready
for
trial.
Mhlanga
will
be
back
in
court
on
April
22
for
possible
furnishing
of
trial
date.
This
becomes
the
third
time
his
application
has
been
turned
down
by
the
courts
on
fears
that
his
release
will
trigger
civil
unrest.