Harare – Zimbabwe journalist Blessed Mhlanga was finally released on Wednesday after spending 73 days in remand prison, several hours after he had been granted US$500 bail
Mhlanga was released Wednesday evening and welcomed by his wife and children who were with his lawyers.
“Dear family, I am home. You are lovely thank you, I owe you loyalty, commitment and professionalism. I am home people,” Mhlanga wrote on his X account.
Mhlanga was arrested in February and charged with transmitting messages to incite violence.
A senior Zimbabwe journalist, Mhlanga works for the Trevor Ncube owned Alpha Media Holdings and Heart & Soul TV.
On Tuesday prison officials refused to release Mhlanga on Tuesday citing frivolous reasons even when the High Court judge Gibson Mandaza had given the journalist bail.
Mhlanga’s charges stem from his coverage of press briefings by ex- ZANU PF central committee member and war veteran, Blessed Geza, who publicly called for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s resignation.
Rights groups and ordinary people in Zimbabwe have said Mhlanga is innocent and that the police in arresting Mhlanga are criminalizing journalism.
Well wishers have raised at least £5 000 on GoFundMe to support Mhlanga and his family.