Police earlier arrested Pastor Evan Mawarire, 39, on charges of inciting violence after he helped to organize a nationwide strike on July 6.
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Mawarire was originally charged with inciting violence when he was arrested on Tuesday, but prosecutors just before his court appearance Wednesday changed it to more serious charges of attempting to overthrow a constitutionally elected government.
The police arrived with water cannons while dozens of #ThisFlag movement supporters wrapped Zimbabwe flags around their necks, a symbol of support for Mawarire.
A social media campaign dubbed “ThisFlag” and “ZimShutDown2016” saw Zimbabwean citizens stay home last week, effectively closing down businesses, shops and schools, in protest against President Robert Mugabe and his ruling Zanu-PF.
Last week Zimbabweans responded to Mawarire’s call to stay away from work and all major cities including Harare and Bulawayo were significantly affected.
A countrywide survey vindicates The Herald’s report on Thursday that the shutdown campaign was largely ignored by Zimbabweans as an estimated 73 percent of people clocked in for work.
“The authorities should focus on working for the good of the people and should investigate police violence”.
A day after his release from jail due to a court rejection of the charges brought against him, Pastor Evan Mawarire has called for the strike to continue against Zimbabwe’s economic hardships. In April, the churchman began an online movement to protest government corruption, an import ban and police brutality.
“We are in solidarity with a man of the cloth who is standing against a system that has impoverished the citizens of this nation”, one protestor told Reuters.
In a pre-recorded video posted on Twitter under the #ThisFlag hashtag after he was charged, Mawarire said his arrest should not stop Zimbabwe’s 13 million people going ahead with demonstrations.
Mawarire was brought into court through a back entrance, as scores of lawyers from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights group offered to represent him.
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Evan Mawarire was greeted outside Harare magistrates’ court by several hundred cheering supporters after the magistrate told the court that his “remand.is hereby refused” and acquitted him of the charges. Protesters burnt tires and clashed with police.
