Harare – The bail hearing for Zimbabwe journalist Blessed Mhlanga has been adjourned indefinitely by the High Court, which will prolong the senior scribe’s time in custody.
Justice Gibson Mandaza made the ruling on Wednesday.
Mhlanga, a senior journalist for Alpha Media Holdings is facing charges of transmitting messages to incite public violence.
The State is accusing Mhlanga of uploading videos of war veteran Blessed Geza who has called for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to step down.
Geza in the videos accuse Mnangagwa of running down the country, and alleged the head of state is corrupt with his wife Auxillia.
Geza, a veteran of the liberation struggle and former ZANU PF central committee member has caused waves across the country in the videos that he posts every time on social media.
He is against a push by Mnangagwa loyalists who want the ruler to rule until 2030.
Geza has called the push to extend Mnangagwa’s tenure by two years “bullsh*t.”
Mhlanga arrest has been condemned by journalists, ordinary people and media organisations have used social media to call for his immediate release arguing he is being persecuted by Mnangagwa’s regime after he interviewed Geza.
Chris Mhike is representing Mhlanga in court.
Zimbabwe police have in the past accused of arresting journalists on trumped up charges to prevent them from exposing corruption in government.
Hopewell Chin’ono, a veteran journalist in self-imposed exile after he was arrested several times by the Mnangagwa regime after he exposed massive corruption in government.
This month marks 10 years since Itai Dzamara, a journalist was abducted and has never been found.
Dzamara was abducted in broad daylight accused by his abductors for repeatedly calling for the resignation of ex-president Robert Mugabe.