Journalist Mhlanga remanded in custody

Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) senior journalist Blessed Mhlanga was remanded in custody in Harare on 25 February 2025 pending a bail ruling on 27 February 2025 on charges of transmitting data messages inciting public violence. 

Mhlanga appeared before Magistrate Farai Gwitima, with the State represented by Ruvimbo Matyatya and Tafadzwa Jambawo. 

His lawyer, Chris Mhike, challenged the State’s opposition to bail, arguing the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify his detention. 

The State called Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Joseph Chitambira, who heads the Criminal Investigations Counter-Terrorism Unit, to the stand. Commenting on that aspect, Mhike said, “The Zimbabwean State seems to be treating the practice of journalism as terrorism.”  He went on to criticise the politicisation and criminalisation of journalism in Zimbabwe.

The State, however, said Mhlanga may interfere with witnesses and that the “magnitude of a likely sentence” would induce the accused to abscond.

Mhlanga was on 24 February 2025 charged and detained on two counts of contravening Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which deals with transmitting data messages inciting violence or damage to property.

It is alleged that after interviewing war veteran Blessed Geza on 27 January 2025 and again on 11 February 2025, the journalist transmitted Geza’s messages, which were inciting violence, through YouTube and HSTV, thereby breaking the law.