Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) journalist Blessed Mhlanga has been denied bail following his arrest on Monday. He faces allegations of transmitting information that incites violence or causes damage to property.
The charges stem from interviews he allegedly conducted with Blessed Geza, a war veteran and vocal critic of the Mnangagwa 2030 agenda.
Geza is currently wanted by police on charges of incitement, undermining the authority of the President, and theft.
Harare Magistrate Farai Gwatima ruled, Friday, against granting Mhlanga bail, agreeing with the state that he could interfere with witnesses.
“What clearly emerges is that a disseminated message will incite violence. Any interpretation to the contrary is incorrect. Accordingly, the release of the accused will put the nation in unrest and undermine peace and security,” Magistrate Gwatima said.
“The issue is not that the applicant gathered and disseminated information, but rather that the information gathered was intended to incite public violence,” he added.
While acknowledging that the right to bail is a constitutional provision, Gwatima emphasised that the court must weigh the interests of the accused against the risk to public order.
“An arrested person is entitled to be released unconditionally, but only when there are no compelling reasons to deny bail. The court must balance the rights of the accused with the need to protect the administration of justice,” he said.
The magistrate also noted that the likelihood of an accused person absconding or interfering with investigations must be strongly supported.
“In this case, given the accused’s position at work, if granted bail, he is likely to interfere with witnesses. Some witnesses have not yet testified, and his release would jeopardise investigations,” he ruled.