TV news chief Blessed Mhlanga took his bail fight to the High Court yesterday after a local judge kept him locked up last week. His lawyers filed papers saying the first court messed up big time. Mhlanga runs news at HEART & Soul TV and landed behind bars on February 24 just for showing press events on air.
The trouble started because Mhlanga broadcast talks by Blessed "Bombshell" Geza, who got kicked out of the ruling Zanu PF party. At these events, Geza blasted President Emmerson Mnangagwa, demanding he quit due to money problems and bad leadership. Magistrate Farai Gwitima refused to free Mhlanga, claiming he might mess with people set to testify against him.
Attorney Chris Mhike heads the team fighting for Mhlanga's freedom. He says the court totally missed the mark since nobody mentioned any actual witnesses Mhlanga could influence. The lawyer pointed out that agreeing to stay in jail for court dates doesn't mean you did anything wrong. Plus, Mhlanga always said he wasn't guilty during earlier hearings.
HStv put Geza on air on January 27 and again on February 11. Geza, an old fighter from independence days, trashed the President and called for everyone across the country to stop working until Mnangagwa stepped down. The police hit Mhlanga with two charges under Section 136 about sending messages that stir up violence or property damage.
Press groups around the world jumped to defend Mhlanga right away. The Media Alliance of Zimbabwe called his arrest pure chicken behavior that has no place anywhere people can speak freely. The International Federation of Journalists demanded they let him go without any strings attached. They stressed that reporters must feel safe doing their jobs for democracy to work right.
The trouble started because Mhlanga broadcast talks by Blessed "Bombshell" Geza, who got kicked out of the ruling Zanu PF party. At these events, Geza blasted President Emmerson Mnangagwa, demanding he quit due to money problems and bad leadership. Magistrate Farai Gwitima refused to free Mhlanga, claiming he might mess with people set to testify against him.
Attorney Chris Mhike heads the team fighting for Mhlanga's freedom. He says the court totally missed the mark since nobody mentioned any actual witnesses Mhlanga could influence. The lawyer pointed out that agreeing to stay in jail for court dates doesn't mean you did anything wrong. Plus, Mhlanga always said he wasn't guilty during earlier hearings.
HStv put Geza on air on January 27 and again on February 11. Geza, an old fighter from independence days, trashed the President and called for everyone across the country to stop working until Mnangagwa stepped down. The police hit Mhlanga with two charges under Section 136 about sending messages that stir up violence or property damage.
Press groups around the world jumped to defend Mhlanga right away. The Media Alliance of Zimbabwe called his arrest pure chicken behavior that has no place anywhere people can speak freely. The International Federation of Journalists demanded they let him go without any strings attached. They stressed that reporters must feel safe doing their jobs for democracy to work right.
