Trevor Ncube should be in the dock, not Blessing Mhlanga

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“We are confident in due time, Blessed is going to be allowed to enjoy the freedom that all of us are currently enjoying,” says @TrevorNcube.

He continues: “I think fundamentally important is the fact that there wasn’t any indication that the court realizes that you’re dealing with freedom of expression and press freedom, and that Blessed @bbmhlanga did not say any of the stuff that he is alleged to have said, I mean, and Blessed is not @NewsDayZimbabwe @AMH.

Blessed is not AMH. He’s just a journalist practicing 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, in that regard, but this is reality that we are in right now.

Unfortunately, President Mnangagwa owns the courts. They have said they own the military, they own the police, they will do as they please. We will continue; I mean, I’m sure the lawyers will do what is right, but what we saw happening today is not fair; It is not justice, and our Constitution does not support what has just taken place here. Thank you, good people. “

Question: But is it safe now for journalists to interview someone who’s being accused?

“Well, I think the it’s clear to me that all of you, under the current circumstances, having seen what you’ve seen out there. You do this job at your own risk, because the court is not going to protect you. The court is going to sign rather than journalists on behalf of the public.

Doing this on behalf of the public, your role is to inform you are conveyor belts in a way. Of course, you you, you’re supposed to to come in and control the quality of what you broadcast. But what we saw happening today says none of you is safe because you are going to- they will come for you for what you’ve written. They’ll come for you for what you’ve broadcast. But should that be should that make us afraid? No, it should not make us afraid. We should still continue to do what is right by law, what is right by our Constitution, and what the public expects us to do

Question: What does this mean in terms of…?

“very very bad. So what is important to realize is the link between and the application of the law in a manner that is transparent, in a manner that shows that there’s fairness, that there’s justification of the law in our country, the innocent and the weak are subjected in a selective manner,” concludes @TrevorNcube

By A Correspondent | In a closely watched legal battle, Magistrate Farai Gwatima today ruled against granting bail to the accused, Mhlanga, citing compelling reasons provided by the prosecution. The magistrate emphasized that the prosecution’s responsibility in bail applications is to demonstrate the existence of compelling reasons why the accused should not be released.

Gwatima praised both the State and defense for their exemplary conduct during the proceedings, describing their behavior as “refreshing and amazing.” He noted that this professionalism allowed the legal process to proceed smoothly without unnecessary legal obstacles.

State’s Arguments Against Bail

The prosecution, led by Ruvimbo Matyatya, argued that Mhlanga posed a significant risk of interfering with witnesses, many of whom are his juniors. Matyatya pointed out that some witness statements were yet to be recorded, increasing the likelihood of interference if Mhlanga were released.

Additionally, the State raised concerns that some of the machinery used in the alleged offense had not been recovered. There was a fear that Mhlanga could reoffend using the same tools if granted bail. However, the prosecution did acknowledge that Mhlanga had voluntarily surrendered to the police and had not attempted to flee.

Defense’s Counterarguments Rejected

The defense, led by Mhike, argued that the prosecution’s submissions lacked merit. He noted that the witnesses’ identities were not disclosed and denied allegations that Mhlanga had incited violence.

Despite these arguments, Magistrate Gwatima upheld the State’s position. He stated, “What is an issue is not that the applicant gathered and disseminated information. It is that the information which he gathered was intended to incite public violence.”

Balancing Constitutional Rights and Public Safety

In his ruling, Gwatima stressed the delicate balance between upholding constitutional rights and maintaining public safety. “The admission to bail has been elevated to a constitutional right. But our Constitution is not novel,” he remarked, adding that the right to bail is not absolute.

He warned against denying bail on “flimsy reasons” but noted that the court must weigh the interests of the accused against potential risks to public safety and the administration of justice. “It is a delicate discretion,” he said, emphasizing the need for strong evidence to support claims that an accused might abscond or interfere with investigations.

Key Reasons for Bail Denial

The magistrate identified specific concerns in this case, particularly Mhlanga’s position at work, which could enable him to interfere with witnesses. The fact that some witnesses had not yet retired from their roles added to the risk that investigations could be jeopardized.

Gwatima concluded, “What clearly emerges is that the 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.”

Conclusion: Bail Denied

In light of the compelling reasons presented by the State, Magistrate Gwatima ruled that Mhlanga’s continued detention was justified. “Accordingly, bail is denied,” he declared, bringing the intense courtroom drama to a close.

This ruling is expected to generate significant public discourse, with implications for how future bail applications involving allegations of incitement and public safety risks are handled.

More updates to follow as the story develops.

Harare deploys new police unit against vendors

THE City of Harare has created a new municipal police unit tasked with raiding illegal traders and arresting litterbugs in the central business district.

This emerged during a meeting held at Town House yesterday, where mayor Jacob Mafume said council wanted to restore order in the city.

“We have created a special unit in our municipal police, that is going to be enforcing anti-litter by-laws,” Mafume said.

“Certainly, in other countries, you don’t roast maize in the middle of town and so forth.

“These are the things that we are going to be planning back on with the special units of the police to make sure that the areas are clean.”

Mafume said the municipality was committed to ensuring that informal traders are allocated safe and proper vending spaces.

“We need to have some streets where we do not permit anyone to sell anything in the market or anywhere and then other streets we can agree, after consultation with the informal sector and the residents, where we can allow them to be able to do the same implementation for designated areas, so that we can establish policies,” he said.

Combined Harare Residents Association director Ruben Akili said council was to blame for lawlessness in the city centre because of its failure to provide alternative vending spaces.

“The local authority probably spends more on enforcing rather than constructing markets,” Akili said.

“It is very important that resources are channelled towards building markets in areas where these people can be allowed to do their work.”

With companies closing shop and job scarcity, the majority of Zimbabweans are resorting to informal trading to feed their families.

There are no statistics on the number of informal traders in the capital, but estimates point to several thousands.

–NewsDay