Mawarire was arrested Tuesday after he went to the police to make a statement about how he organised a stayaway a week ago via his #This Flag site.
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A court in Zimbabwe on Wednesday freed a pastor who organized the largest nationwide strike against the government in almost a decade, ruling that police violated his rights.
Evan Mawarire briefly thanked several hundred cheering supporters who had rallied throughout the day outside Harare magistrates’ court, singing and praying for his release.
Mawarire’s lawyer Harrison Nkomo said his client initially faced charges of inciting violence before prosecutors changed the charge to attempting to overthrow the government, which carries up to 20 years in jail in found guilty.
Henry Munangatire, a group spokesman, said #ThisFlag was surprised by the arrest and hoped Mawarire’s lawyers could get him released.
He appeared at Harare magistrates’ court with a national flag tied around his neck while about 150 young supporters sang and chanted outside.
The pastor has been at the heart of a social media campaign denouncing the government’s management of the economy.
Despite a two-day strike that Mr. Mawarire and others had called for this week, most people arrived for work in central Harare on Wednesday.
Preacher Mawarire, who started a campaign against government, has been arrested for “inciting public violence”.
However, a similar protest last week left the country’s cities deserted after civil servants had gone unpaid.
Veteran President Robert Mugabe, 92, has previously used security forces to crack down on any public show of dissent, and riot police were on duty outside the court. The government has warned organizers of further protests that “they will face the full wrath of the law”.
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“Instead of suppressing dissenting voices, Zimbabwean authorities should be listening to protesters like Evan Mawarire”, said Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International’s deputy director for southern Africa.
