Pastor calls for protest against Mugabe

Evan Mawarire, the founder of Zimbabwe’s ThisFlag social media movement, has on Friday in Pretoria called for a major protest against President Robert Mugabe and his government.

Mawarire encouraged his supporters in a Facebook video message to stand up and sing Zimbabwe’s national anthem during a cricket match in the southern town of Bulawayo on Saturday.

Zimbabwe is scheduled to play New Zealand and the game would be broadcast internationally.

“When the 36th over starts, you and I are going to stand up as a sign of saying for 36 years of Mugabe’s rule we have been quiet, but now we are standing up.

“I want you to sing the national anthem. They can’t shut you up. They can’t arrest you for singing the national anthem,” he said.

The 39-year-old activist, who recently fled to neighbouring South Africa after receiving death threats, said the protest has become imperative because of the country’s politics, economic demise and corruption.

Mawarire who said he doesn’t belong to a political party, complained about the terrible situation, gagging, unnecessary arrest and insecurity in the Country.

Attesting to it, he said he was arrested and charged with attempting to overthrow the government, but later released due to a technicality.

Meanwhile, the ruling Zanu-PF party has described the message as a ploy by Mawarire to achieve his political ambitions.

Tafadzwa Mugwadi, a Senior Zanu-PF Youth Leader, said that if Mawarirehas and his supporters have issues, they must engage the government and not be confrontational.