Evan Mawarire, the Zimbabwean pastor whose #ThisFlag social media campaign contributed massively to a significant stayaway two weeks ago, says he is now “seriously” worried about returning home after hearing President Robert Mugabe denouncing him.
Pastor Mawarire left for South Africa “to clear his head” after subversion charges against him were dropped by a Zimbabwe court last week. He said soon after arriving in the country he would be returning home.
At a state funeral on Tuesday Mugabe, 92, spoke about Mawarire for the first time, accusing the pastor of encouraging violence.
Mugabe says Mawarire encouraging violence
Mugabe accused the preacher, who leads a small congregation of worshippers in Harare, of leading a violent campaign ahead of a national stayaway on July 6, which coincided with a strike by many unpaid civil servants.
Mugabe told mourners at the official funeral for Charles Utete, his former chief secretary: “The Mawarire’s … I don’t even know him, and those who believe in that way of living, well, are not part of us in thinking, they are not part of us as we try to live together. If they don’t want to live with us they should go to those countries that are sponsoring them.
“You can’t urge people to adopt violence, violent demonstrations as the way of life or a way of solving grievances, no.
“We will say no, forever no; find another environment if you are a pastor. I don’t know if he is a man of religion. A man of religion will speak the biblical truth … beware these men of God, not all of them are preachers of the Bible. I don’t know whether they are serving God or they spell G.O.D. in reverse.”
Foreign help
The state-controlled media have accused the French and US governments of assisting Mawarire’s #ThisFlag campaign.
Mawarire was arrested on charges of inciting public violence last week. But when he got to the Harare Magistrate’s Court the charges put to him were different. He was accused of plotting to overthrow a constitutionally elected government, or treason, in other words.
The legal anomaly forced the state to drop the charges and Mawarire was immediately freed. Thousands who had gathered outside the court celebrated with him late into the night.
The pastor launched his #This Flag campaign on social media in April, with a video of himself draped in the National flag. Mawarire accused the government of betraying the flag and the country through corruption, late payment of civil service salaries and poor governance, including ruining the economy so that people could not withdraw cash from banks.
The pastor did not mention violence in his posts on social media and messages sent to journalists. Soon after he was freed, Mawarire urged his supporters to continue protesting against corruption and police brutality. He then travelled by road, legally, to South Africa.
Mawarire said he was shocked when he heard Mugabe’s words.
“To hear a head of state talk of something that is an untruth is bad. So this has become a very serious situation for me, and I fear it. I am worried,” said the pator.
“I make regular trips to South Africa. The main reason I came here was just to get away from it all, to calm down, relax, clear my head and think clearly about the way forward.”
Several prominent and experienced lawyers in Zimbabwe say they believe he will be arrested again as soon as he returns home and will face charges of attempting to overthrow the government which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison without option of a fine.
Fearing arrest
Mawarire said he and many others in Zimbabwe feared arrest although the police had treated him fairly at Harare Central Police Station.
“The police were cordial. But the cell was terrible. There were 22 of us in the cell no bigger then 10m x 10m and the blankets had been defecated on. We had to use the blankets as it was cold, and the smell, Oh!”
He said when he was taken the next day to the shabby Harare Magistrate’s Court. a sewer pipe along the walkway next to the cells was burst. “I had to eat my lunch next to that,” he said.
On his Facebook page, Mawarire had said he was going home. But that was before hearing what Mugabe said about him. Now he says is a very worried man and uncertain about the future. – African News Agency
17 Replies to “Mawarire Fears Returning to Zimbabwe – ANA”
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Itai kuti Ava kunakirwa nekusvirwa kumudhdhi ne mabhunu ake chete,achiurairwa chii? Avakudya Mari ne bhunu rake imi muri busy yep yep,tibvireipo apa
ASI ndiwe unoda kumuuraya? Be real shamwari usarotomoke
Iwe utori nyoro rinonhuwa, rebere, kikikiki
So all those barking, Hatichatya are all fake. Look 2 the number of idiots who were crazy and over excited like a virgin monkey which had sex for the first time. YE YE MUGABE WAZOINDA ZVINO!, HEHEHE THIS FLAG, HEHEHE TAHWINA, HEHEH HATIMBOTYA, my foot. Politics is for men of steel not overnight idiotic face book mobilizers, period.
So all those barking, Hatichatya are all fake. Look 2 the number of idiots who were crazy and over excited like a virgin monkey which had sex for the first time. YE YE MUGABE WAZOINDA ZVINO!, HEHEHE THIS FLAG, HEHEHE TAHWINA, HEHEH HATIMBOTYA, my foot. Politics is for men of steel not overnight idiotic face book mobilizers, period.
So you are advising him to be a coward like you, I guess and let the devil Mgabe rule forever. Unbelievable
So you are advising him to be a coward like you, I guess and let the devil Mgabe rule forever. Unbelievable
Oh,,,, you mean shackles, not shekels! Anyway, you helped me add the word shekels (informal term for mulla, or basic unit of mulla in Israel) to my diction.
Yah, no one has any right to influence Mawarire’s destiny or fate. He did this much needed and very important work out of his own willpower and selflessness. It’s only fair to let the choice as to what move to take next be entirely his. While we would all want such a valiant man to be here helping us shake off the shackles of fear and intimidation from our limbs and minds, it’s only fair at the moment to remain thankful to him and afford him the freedom to make choices that can influence his destiny in profound ways. Whatever choice he makes, we must remain grateful and stand by him.
We have all been aware of the danger faced throughout the #ThisFlag campaign and it’s culmination in the the biggest protest ever witnessed in Zim in more than a decade. We are all aware that he is now in even much greater danger now that he has been labeled “an enemy of the state” by our ruthless rulers. So if he chooses not to come back soon, we must remain thankful and be with him in our prayers!
We say,,, Please come back..!
Oh,,,, you mean shackles, not shekels! Anyway, you helped me add the word shekels (informal term for mulla, or basic unit of mulla in Israel) to my diction.
Yah, no one has any right to influence Mawarire’s destiny or fate. He did this much needed and very important work out of his own willpower and selflessness. It’s only fair to let the choice as to what move to take next be entirely his. While we would all want such a valiant man to be here helping us shake off the shackles of fear and intimidation from our limbs and minds, it’s only fair at the moment to remain thankful to him and afford him the freedom to make choices that can influence his destiny in profound ways. Whatever choice he makes, we must remain grateful and stand by him.
We have all been aware of the danger faced throughout the #ThisFlag campaign and it’s culmination in the the biggest protest ever witnessed in Zim in more than a decade. We are all aware that he is now in even much greater danger now that he has been labeled “an enemy of the state” by our ruthless rulers. So if he chooses not to come back soon, we must remain thankful and be with him in our prayers!
We say,,, Please come back..!
Usauya zvako iwe unofira mahara
Uri godzva rezviyo…
He has the right to be afraid…when a nation is under the ruler-ship of a demented 92 year who throws dangerous words akin to proclaiming fatwa on people then Mawarire is within his rights to protect his life by remaining outside the country. He must now take his family to Europe and seek asylum…….Pake arwa zvakwana….the desire for freedom and the embers of discontent have been ignited in the citizenry……. ADIOS PASTOR & BROTHER…This regime will kill you pakangove pasi….
don’t throw stones at others if you live in glass houses.
we thought u r made of steel stuff.
those who go to the top are tough guys. look at RG Mugabe 11yrs, Mandela 27 yrs. Mujuru war veteran shooting at enemies, etc, etc
don’t throw stones at others if you live in glass houses.
we thought u r made of steel stuff.
those who go to the top are tough guys. look at RG Mugabe 11yrs, Mandela 27 yrs. Mujuru war veteran shooting at enemies, etc, etc
True that …yet he has done so much for someone out there to continue fanning the moment
True that …yet he has done so much for someone out there to continue fanning the moment
God’s Hierarchy is: God – Family – Church – Other. I advise you to stay out of Zim because if you come back you will be put away for the said 20 years, and that will serve no purpose to God, your family, church and the masses of Zimbabwe. Its a personal advice.
Zimbabweans love you, but they will not be able to get you out of the shekels of the devil, even the +100 lawyers can only do so much. Its a painful reality.