Zimbabwe’s Pastor Evan Mawarire, the Founder of the #ThisFlag movement in 2016, has been arrested for supporting a protest by medical students.
Mawarire was arrested on Monday at the University of Zimbabwe while praying with medical students engaged in a protest over academic fees.
Amnesty International has labelled the arrest of Zimbabwean Pastor Evan Mawarire as history repeating itself.
Mawarire was arrested on Monday at the University of Zimbabwe while praying with medical students engaged in a protest over academic fees.
“His arrest unfortunately shows that he continues to be targeted by a government hell-bent on criminalizing him for exercising his rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” says Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Southern Africa, Belinda Moses.
“Pastor Evan Mawarire is a prisoner of conscience held solely for the peaceful exercise of his rights. He must be immediately and unconditionally released.”
In 2016, Mawarire led several anti-government protests against corruption, human rights violations and the declining economy in the country.
He was previously arrested on 12 July 2016 and charged with incitement to commit public violence after leading a national strike on 6 July. He was then released after a magistrate found his arrest to be unconstitutional and dismissed the charge against him.
In an interview with FORBES AFRICA in July 2016, Mawarire admitted that he fears for his life and suspected he would be rearrested.
“I’m definitely worried of re-arrest and I know they are trying to take me. I see danger and I fear for my life but I am more afraid of failing to explain to my children for having done nothing. Recently somebody called me and threatened to strangle me with the flag. Two government ministers have attacked me personally on social media. They are not used to citizens rising up and speaking to them.”
Photo by Motlabana Monnakgotla