HARARE, Mar. 9 (NewsDay Live) – A warrant of arrest has been issued for HSTV journalist Blessed Mhlanga, who is jointly charged with HSTV general manager Olga Muteiwa, after he failed to appear in court for the continuation of his trial.
Mhlanga is facing charges of transmitting data messages allegedly intended to incite public violence.
His defence lawyers, Doug Coltart and Chris Mhike, presented a medical report indicating that Mhlanga is currently in South Africa seeking medical treatment.
However, State prosecutor Anesu Chirenje objected to the report, arguing that the authenticity of the medical document needed to be verified.
The court subsequently issued a warrant of arrest and postponed the matter to April 10, 2026.
Mhlanga is currently on trial at the Harare Magistrates’ Court over allegations of transmitting messages that could incite public violence after HSTV broadcast an interview with late war veterans’ leader Blessed Geza last March.
In the interview, Geza allegedly called for the removal of President Emmerson Mnangagwa from office, accusing him of corruption and dementia.
Mhlanga previously spent 75 days in pre-trial detention before being granted bail by the High Court in May last year.
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