A Zimbabwean pastor who led a popular protest movement last year against strongman President Robert Mugabe said Friday that he might stand in the 2018 general election.
Evan Mawarire was publicly threatened by Mugabe, 92, after starting the “This Flag” internet campaign that triggered the largest surge of anti-government street protests in many years.
Mugabe has vowed to run again and has already been chosen as the candidate for the ruling ZANU-PF party, which has been involved in brutal violence and vote-rigging in past elections.
Mawarire, who is on bail, faces charges of subverting the government and inciting public violence after he was arrested earlier this month at Harare airport.
“If the need arises or if it becomes necessary for me to participate in the elections I really want to be available for that,” he told reporters outside court on Friday.
“I believe it is my duty as a citizen to serve my nation in that way… I haven’t made that decision as yet but certainly I don’t want that door to be closed.”
Mawarire fled the country in July in fear for his life, and was arrested on his return.
The evangelical pastor, 39, emerged as an opposition figurehead after posting a Facebook video in which he wore Zimbabwe’s flag on his shoulders as he condemned the country’s worsening economic crisis.
Following Mugabe’s intervention, security forces crushed the series of protests and work strikes organised by the “This Flag” movement and other groups.
In the last election in 2013, Mugabe easily defeated the opposition Movement for Democratic Change in a vote widely seen as not credible.
The court case against Mawarire was postponed until March 16. – Guardian
You are as a nation we are indeed very “shortsighted” and you yourself are the typical case!
You acknowledge that MDC the “2nd biggest party and they failed to topple” Zanu PF. Have you ever asked yourself why they have failed? If you had done so then you would have come to the conclusion that Tsvangirai and his friends are breathtakingly corrupt and incompetent.
It seems you have asked yourself that question because you do also admit of “the issue right now is not about getting in a better leader”.
Only a real myopic person would not see the folly of putting one’s trust in the same corrupt and incompetent leaders, who have already proven beyond all doubt that they have no clue what they are doing, to lead!
Albert Einstein said insanity was “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Yes he was talking about you and all the other dim wits out there who have
continued to support President Mugabe or Morgan Tsvangirai regardless of the
two’s track record of corruption and incompetency. Zimbabweans love recycling
deadwood, even someone who is 93 years old, can hardly walk and dozes off at
the drop of a hat, they will keep him because “the issue right now is not
about getting in a better leader”!
The most important issue is to get the best leader possible before doing anything else!
People praised Tsvangirai and Mugabe before him when they first stepped on the political stage but look what they have done. The latter has dragged us into this hell-hole and the former is now doing his best to keep us there!
I think it is prudent for the nation to demand to know Pastor Mawarire’s plan and not just assume he knows where the Promised Land is and how to get there! For all we know he may turnout to be just as corrupt and incompetent as all the other politicians crowding the political stage!
If there are any lesson we should have learnt from the last 37 years of blundering from pillar to post then it must be that we must elect competent leaders with some common sense, at least. “Kwete kungo kuvirira zvose mavhu namarara!”
To contest Zimbabwean elections in the present set up without reforms is an exercise in futility!
Tibvirwe vana Mawarire munoda kuwana Ovote ndizvo zvawakaronga neZanu kuti uzo tikanganisira ma vote u have lost our support once u start those games.Wakatengwa takagara tazviona
Its not being negative, you are the one that being negative thinking that he will even make a small dent in Zanupf’s strong hold. you know the 2nd biggest party is MDC and they have failed to to topple them and Mawarire just started yesterday and thinks he can win? I have respect and support the guy, under different circumstances i would vote for him but this round all he is going to achieve is splitting the vote and most guaranteed let Zanupf rule again. Our shortsightedness as Zimbabweans is the reason we are suffering, the issue right now is not about getting in a better leader, the issue is getting out Zanupf out, so what Mawarire and every power hungry politician in Zimbabwe should be doing is coming together and feilding one person to take on Zanupf. Together we are strong, divided we are weak.
People who always commend negative feedback are the coward one and cannot simpathyse with the brave who fight for change. Kungo shoropodza all the time. Ko kunyarara muneyi.
Go for it Pastor if that is what you sense in your spirit. Why not, you were saved to serve God and your nation
before you hold yourself highly and think your respect of him is worth it what have you got to your name regards the straggle for a better zim…shut up.
This was planned a long time ago do not be fooled
He better not run for president, he will loose any respect we have for him