Journalism is not a crime, free Mhlanga

It is savage and an attack on the free press that Blessed Mhlanga is being held in custody.

The media’s mission is to amuse, educate, and inform. Without fear, harassment, or intimidation, the media should be free to fulfil its constitutional job.

Gagging and choking the fourth estate are once again the regime’s frightening strategies. Mr. Government, journalism is not a crime. There was no crime committed by Blessed Mhlanga. When Emmerson Mnangagwa ousted the late Robert Mugabe from office in 2017, his campaigners also employed the same Alpha Media Holdings, but no one was arrested.

Blessed Geza is a Zanu-PF central committee member. He could have used the ZBC channel to express his ideas, but he realised the institution had been controlled and he would not have the opportunity; instead, he chose Alpha Media Holdings. Thus, the beauty of media plurality.

He is the result of the pressers that Christopher Mutsvangwa and his group put on him. Newsday covered them before, during, and after the coup, so why is Mhlanga being arrested now?

Mhlanga was simply a conduit for Blessed “Bombshell” Geza’s message, which recently called on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to resign, citing a slew of claims.

It is completely ludicrous to accuse him of sending data communications that promote violence in violation of Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23. The Zanu PF administration has threatened to kill Nelson Chamisa, but no one was arrested. This is nothing compared to what we have seen. The law’s selective application is still in place.

Zimbabwe has now become a banana republic. The cycle continues when they refuse to release him on bond, which leads to his extended detention until the case is dismissed for lack of evidence, but one would have been imprisoned.

There is a siege of the media. A country must expand its media landscape and permit the free exchange of opposing viewpoints in order to further its growth. Threatening members of the media or journalists is a surefire way to fail in any democracy.
Leonard Koni

Journalists, rights activists, politicians stand in solidarity with HSTv’s Blessed Mhlanga

THE Harare Magistrates Court where AMH journalist Blessed Mhlanga appeared facing charges of transmission of information that incites violence or causes damage to property was a hive of activity as Dozens of human rights activists, opposition politicians and journalists attended in solidarity.

Blessed Mhlanga remanded in custody over Cde Bombshell Geza’s videos: But I’m the one ED asked to broadcast his letter when he fled Mugabe

A Harare magistrate is set to deliver a ruling on Thursday regarding the bail application of Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) journalist, Blessed Mhlanga, who faces accusations of inciting public violence. The arrest has sparked concerns over press freedom and the treatment of journalists in Zimbabwe.

Mhlanga, a senior journalist at AMH and head of HSTv, was apprehended on Monday after voluntarily presenting himself to Harare Central Police Station, accompanied by his lawyer Chris Mhike. The police had previously indicated they were seeking him in connection with his coverage of press conferences held by Zanu PF central committee member, Blessings Geza.
The charges against Mhlanga fall under Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23, relating to the transmission of information that incites violence or causes damage to property. The state alleges that Mhlanga granted an interview to Geza, a war veteran known for his staunch opposition to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s 2030 agenda. Geza had used AMH’s HSTv platform to issue press briefings calling for President Mnangagwa’s immediate resignation.

Mhike, representing Mhlanga, has strongly criticised the police’s handling of the case, alleging unprofessional conduct and raising concerns about the conditions of detention.

“My client was invited to the police station thrice over the past four weeks with the police indicating that they wanted to have talks with him and on each occasion, they released him indicating that they did not have any case against him,” Mhike stated.

He further explained that after learning of the police’s intentions, Mhlanga willingly went to the station, cooperated fully with the interview process, and completed all necessary paperwork by lunchtime. “They should have taken the accused to court but alas, police decided to detain him till today,” Mhike lamented.

Mhike also highlighted the deplorable conditions at Harare Central Police Station, describing the cells as being “in a sorry state with ceilings hanging down.” He further added, “Our police does not provide inmates with food or water and inmates have normalised sleeping on a dry floor in this jurisdiction. That is inhumane treatment. This conduct by the police has been sanitised by the NPA, every police report should be vetted properly.”

In response to these concerns, the State requested 72 hours to investigate the alleged complaints, a request granted by the court. The prosecution is also opposing bail, arguing that Mhlanga would interfere with potential witnesses, who are his junior colleagues at AMH.

“Some of them are yet to be recorded statements by the police. Investigations are still ongoing. If the accused is granted bail, he will interfere with witnesses,” the prosecutor argued. They further claimed that “There is a likelihood that he will commit similar offences, the same machinery which he used in the present case before the court are yet to be recovered by the police, procedures to recover same have commenced.”

Mhike vehemently refuted the State’s arguments, asserting that they had failed to present valid legal grounds for denying bail.

“The state has failed to make a valid legal point against the granting of bail,” he declared. “If the prosecution had established that the accused person was previously on remand that would constitute compelling reasons. The reasons are unfounded and groundless.”

Mhike also criticised the prosecution’s attempt to link Mhlanga’s profession as a political reporter to political activity, stating, “My sister (prosecutor) made a strange comparison that because he is a political reporter he therefore is a politician. We now see the politicisation of journalism.”

Mhike passionately defended Mhlanga’s right to freedom of expression and the importance of press freedom in a democratic society. “Silencing journalists is not part of law,” he asserted. “May the court be told that the so-called juniors have been visiting the accused in solidarity. If the state thought they are dangerous they would have taken measures to reduce the visits.”

He emphasised that Mhlanga’s role as a journalist is to gather and disseminate news, a right protected by Section 61 of the Constitution. “What happened to press freedom in this country? I am pained that I am standing in court defending a journalist’s right to freedom of expression,” Mhike stated. This is an Ignite Media Zimbabwe news production. Addressing the State’s claim that Mhlanga had committed the alleged offence repeatedly, Mhike countered, “The last point is that the accused did not do this once but twice, yes he didn’t do it twice but many times. It is his job.” He further argued that the public has a right to hear diverse viewpoints, even those that may be critical of the government. “Whether you agree with what Geza said, the public is entitled to hear it. It’s not my client who put these statements to the public,” Mhike asserted. “I pray that the court makes a finding that on the law the state has failed to find compelling reasons to detain my clients.”

Josphat Chitambira, the arresting detail attached to the CID Counter Terrorism Unit, testified in opposition to bail, citing concerns about witness interference. “Firstly, the witnesses we have lined up are the accused’s workmates, he is senior to them out of fear is that he will influence them and it is prejudicial,” he stated. “We have 10 witnesses whom we intend to interview.”

Visibly shaken, Mhlanga recorded a video message to his supporters and the nation shortly before surrendering himself to the police. He expressed dismay at the police’s actions, particularly as they had announced they were seeking him while he was out of the country. He pointed out that his departure through Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (formerly Harare International Airport) demonstrated that he was not attempting to evade authorities.

Mhlanga emphasised that his passion and professional duty as a journalist were to provide a platform for all voices to be heard. He recalled that in October 2017, when then-Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa was dismissed by President Robert Mugabe and subsequently fled to South Africa for his safety, it was he (Mhlanga) who first received Mnangagwa’s now-infamous letter. In that letter, Mnangagwa declared his intention to return within two weeks to lead the nation, asserting that Zimbabwe was not the personal property of Mugabe and his wife. Mhlanga stated that he was instructed to disseminate the letter to other journalists and media outlets, a task he carried out diligently.

He further recounted instances where he would be roused from sleep at midnight to rush to court and cover stories for war veteran and former cabinet minister Victor Matemadanda, during Matemadanda’s persecution under President Robert Mugabe’s regime.

The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of press freedom in Zimbabwe, with concerns raised about the potential for the charges against Mhlanga to be used to silence critical voices and stifle independent journalism. The ruling on Mhlanga’s bail application is eagerly awaited, with many hoping that the court will uphold the principles of freedom of expression and the right of journalists to report on matters of public interest without fear of reprisal.

Geza and other war veterans had addressed press conferences between January and February, demanding President Mnangagwa’s resignation due to alleged corruption and incompetence. Prosecutors allege that Mhlanga recorded Geza calling for Mnangagwa’s resignation with the intention of inciting violence on January 27 and February 11. Mhike argued that Mhlanga had no case to answer and there was no need for the prosecution to treat him as a terrorist as well as depriving him of his freedom.

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