Staff Reporter
A highly anticipated bail hearing for Alpha Media Holdings senior reporter, Blessed Mhlanga, was deferred at the High Court, in Harare, amid allegations that his transmissions incited public violence. The decision, made by Justice Gibson Mandaza, has postponed proceedings until tomorrow, allowing the State additional time to file its response to his appeal.
The postponement came after the prosecution formally requested extra time to prepare its submissions regarding the charges. Both the State and Mhlanga’s defence agreed with the deferral, acknowledging the need for thorough preparation. In a bid to ensure a fair trial, the judge decided that resuming the hearing the following day would best accommodate all parties involved.
Complicating the matter, the State has indicated its intention to transfer the case to a specialised anti-corruption court. Officials argue that since the original case was previously heard in a Regional Court with anti-corruption jurisdiction at the Magistrates Court, the matter falls within that purview.
However, Mhlanga’s lawyer, Chris Mhike, strongly opposed this transfer. He asserted that the alleged offence, stemming from the use of digital platforms to disseminate videos—bears no connection to corruption or graft. Instead, he argued, the charges revolve solely around inciting public violence through communication channels, a matter that should remain within the High Court’s jurisdiction.
Mhike further submitted that if a postponement was necessary, proceedings should simply resume on Wednesday, March 12. Despite these arguments, Justice Mandaza declined to move the case to a specialised court, maintaining that the current courtwas appropriate for the charges at hand.
The allegations against Blessed Mhlanga date back to January 27, when he was accused of recording and uploading a video featuring Blessed Runesu Geza. The video was shared across several online platforms including YouTube, HSTV, and zimlive.co.zw with messages which the State argue were intended to incite public violence.
A subsequent video, uploaded on February 11, is similarly alleged to contain incendiary content designed to provoke public unrest in Zimbabwe. The State contends that these actions are unlawful, arguing that such transmissions have the potential to destabilise public order and incite violence.
