Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. THE trial of Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) journalist, Blessed Mhlanga, on charges of incitement commenced yesterday at the Harare Magistrates Court.
Mhlanga, who is jointly charged with HStv general manager Olga Muteiwa, appeared before magistrate Sheunesu Matova.
Mhlanga and Muteiwa are being represented by Chris Mhike, Douglas Coltart and Beatrice Mtetwa.
State prosecutor Anesu Chirenje made an application for postponement saying a witness in the case, who is a detective from the Law and Order Section, was not feeling well.
Chirenje tendered a letter from the Zimbabwe Republic Police stating that the detective was sick.
The accused’s legal team, however, argued that there is no tangible evidence to prove that the application was made on legal grounds since the letter did not originate from a hospital.
The trial later commenced after Mhike protested about delays being caused by the State.
Mtetwa said the matter had been managed poorly from the outset.
Chirenje opposed the submissions, arguing that the delays were not caused by the State, adding that the trial should commence without any blame games.
Mhike argued that the State has wrongly changed Mhlanga since he is not a director of HStv.
The charges emanate from a Press conference broadcast by HStv, where outspoken war veteran Blessed “Bombshell” Geza called for the removal of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Mhike told the court that the alleged video does not implicate Mhlanga and that his client was being unfairly victimised.
The State led evidence from Edmore Nyazamba, who is officer-in-charge CID Law and Order Harare, who testified that Mhlanga is a journalist employed by the company.
He said the accused provided facilities for Geza to make utterances which had an effect of inciting a mass uprising against government.
Nyazamba told the court that Mhlanga was communicating with Geza using X (formerly Twitter) calls which are private and cannot be intercepted
easily. The witness said Mhlanga told the police that Geza organised transport for him and his camera team to an venue where the Geza interview was recorded.
The matter was deferred to July 31 for trial continuation.
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