ALPHA Media Holdings senior journalist Blessed Mhlanga will take his freedom bid to the High Court today challenging the magistrate's decision to deny him bail at the lower court.
Mhlanga, who is being represented by Chris Mhike of Atherstone & Cook, is challenging the lower court’s decision to deny him bail saying the magistrate erred in denying him bail when there were no compelling reasons justifying his continued incarceration.
He also submitted that the court a quo misdirected itself in concluding that the appellant would interfere with witnesses, simply because he is a “senior political reporter,” whose perceived juniors are potential witnesses.
Mhlanga submitted that the magistrate court grossly erred and misdirected itself by concluding that consent to remand amounts to an admission of the allegations or that there is reasonable suspicion. He said the court a quo grossly erred by totally ignoring the fact that the appellant/accused denied transmitting the relevant messages during bail proceedings.
The matter is pending.
Mhlanga was arrested on February 24 for covering Press conferences addressed by expelled Zanu PF central committee member Blessed “Bombshell” Geza, who demanded President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s resignation for alleged corruption, incompetence and misgovernance.
He was denied bail by magistrate Farai Gwitima based on the claim that he is likely to interfere with witnesses.
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