Harare, (New Ziana) -Journalist Blessed Mhlanga of Heart and Souls Broadcasting Services who was arrested on two counts of transmitting data messages inciting violence was on Tuesday remanded in custody to Thursday by the Harare magistrates court for bail ruling.
Magistrate Farai Gwitima heard the case, while Mhlanga was represented by Chris Mhike and the State by Ruvimbo Matyatya and Takudzwa Jambawo.
According to the prosecution, Mhlanga, who is employed as a senior political and presidential reporter by HStv, on January 27 this year, by means of some computer or information system, recorded a video of one Blessed Runesu Geza and made it available to members of the public.
He made it available to the public by transmitting and broadcasting it through an internet platform called YouTube, allegedly intending to incite members of the public to commit acts of violence.
The broadcasted videos, the State said, included the statements: “…It is clear that Mnangagwa has failed. He is not fit to run this country and his time to go is now. We ask him to go peacefully. If he refuses to take heed of this advice, we have no option but to ask the people of Zimbabwe to deal with a rogue President… You think we are fools, go peacefully…if you think this is a joke it’s your fault, resign peacefully,” among other statements.
Again on February 11 this year Mhlanga broadcasted a video on the same internet platform, carrying the message: “Cde Mutamba (Stephen, the Commissioner General of Police) une vakomana vePISI vabvunze mareports ezvinodiwa nevanhu ndezvipi. Vanhu havachadi.. Tikanzwa kuti kune vanhu vasungwa, munhu apfurwa, mapurisa ako ese anogara mumarukesheni umu, we want to warn you kuti mapurisa iyayo anogara kumarokeshini uko tichati vanhu vadile nawo nemasiblings avo wanopedzerarana. Ndatenda.”
(“Cde Mutamba you have members of PISI ask them reports on what the people want. The people no longer want…, …if we hear that some people are arrested, a person is shot, your police officers who stay in locations, we want to warn you that those police officers who stay in locations we will tell the people to deal with them together with their siblings, they will deal with them, thank you.”)
The statements were allegedly intended to incite members of the public to commit public violence in Zimbabwe.
New Ziana
