Today, human rights group, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, an International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) partnership, have demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Pastor Evan Mawarire, the leader of #ThisFlag protest.
On February 1, 2017, prominent anti-corruption and human rights defender, Pastor Mawarire was charged by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) with “subverting a constitutional government”.
The ZRP claims that the cleric has been “inciting Zimbabweans from all walks of life either locally or internationally to revolt and overthrow a constitutionally elected government”. That includes allegations that Pastor Mawarire has incited some Zimbabweans living in the USA and “all over the world” through social media to converge in New York on September 22, 2016 to “confront” President Mugabe, who was attending the United Nations General Assembly and order him to “immediately” resign from his position accusing him of destroying the country.
“Authorities were clearly waiting for Pastor Evan Mawarire’s return to continue harassing him. He cannot set foot in his own country without being arrested, that says a lot about the situation of those who dare to denounce corruption and human rights violations in Zimbabwe,” said Arnold Tsunga, FIDH Vice President.
Pastor Mawarire, who has been on self-imposed exile to the United States for the past seven months, led last year’s #ThisFlag protests which encouraged Zimbabweans via social media to hold protests against President Robert Mugabe, accusing him of corruption and causing the economic crisis.
As a result, in July 2016, Pastor Mawarire was arrested and charged with “inciting public violence”. The public prosecutor then altered the charges to “attempting to overthrow a constitutional government”.
President Mugabe himself publicly attacked Pastor Evan Mawarire accusing him of being a “great shame” and a “disgrace” for “allowing himself to demonstrate against the country”.
However, the Harare Magistrate, Vakai Chikwekwe, ruled that ZRP officers had violated his constitutional rights in arresting and detaining him and that the prosecutor acted in violation of the Constitution by bringing new charges against Pastor Mawarire while in court.
“Leading peaceful protests aiming at exposing bad governance which affects the rights of the population is nowhere close to constituting a crime.
“Pastor Evan Mawarire should be immediately and unconditionally released,” concluded Gerald Staberock, OMCT Secretary General.