zimbabwe protest leader arrested on eve of scheduled strike
Thursday 13 February 2025
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Zimbabwe protest leader arrested on eve of scheduled strike

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice Zimbabwe protest leader arrested on eve of scheduled strike

Zimababwean pastor Evan Mawarire
Harare - Arab Today

Zimbabwean pastor Evan Mawarire, one of the organisers of recent protests against President Robert Mugabe's decades-long rule, was arrested Tuesday and charged with inciting public violence, his lawyer said. 

A national "shutdown" protest last week closed many businesses, shops and schools, with public transport and some government departments and courts also ceasing to function.

The strike on Wednesday followed days of sporadic protests triggered by a sudden outbreak of demonstrations on the outskirts of Harare over police accused of using road blocks to extort cash from motorists.

Further shutdowns are scheduled on Wednesday and Thursday in a surge of public anger over the country's worsening economic crisis and opposition to the authoritarian regime of Mugabe, 92.

Banks have run short of cash, government salaries have been delayed and many basic imports banned at a time when the country has also suffered a severe drought that has left millions hungry.

"(Mawarire) has been charged with inciting public violence," his lawyer Harrison Nkomo told AFP after the Baptist pastor reported to a police station in central Harare where he had been summoned for questioning.
Mawarire shot to instant fame after he posted a video of himself on Facebook in April venting against state corruption and the government's failure to provide basic services.

The video, in which Mawarire was wearing a Zimbabwean flag, spawned the ThisFlag hashtag movement which has become a unifying symbol for the protests.

The demonstrations have revealed the long-bubbling frustration normally kept under strict control by Mugabe's ruthless security forces in a country where 90 percent of the population are not in formal jobs.

Footage on the internet has shown police beating protesters with sticks.

"No violence, citizens," Mawarire said in a video message before his arrest.

"Whenever we protest: no violence, so we are pushing ahead Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 July.

"We are pushing for a 'stay-away' (shutdown) because there is nothing else we can do for the government to listen to us."
Zimbabwe, which abandoned its own currency in favour of US dollars in 2009 to end hyperinflation, spends more than 80 percent of its revenue on state workers' wages and is rated among the most corrupt nations worldwide.

The government has accused western embassies of backing the street protests and national work boycotts.

Information minister Christopher Mushowe also warned Sunday that the authorities were tracking “all those who are abusing the social media to cause unrest in the country”.

The government has warned that anyone sharing "subversive" material would be arrested.

Source: AFP

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

zimbabwe protest leader arrested on eve of scheduled strike zimbabwe protest leader arrested on eve of scheduled strike

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

zimbabwe protest leader arrested on eve of scheduled strike zimbabwe protest leader arrested on eve of scheduled strike

 



GMT 10:31 2014 Tuesday ,23 December

Mirages of failure: Lebanon cannot wait

GMT 14:23 2016 Tuesday ,27 September

Kingdom wins Canada award in education

GMT 17:29 2017 Wednesday ,18 January

Call for Saudis to apply to US education program

GMT 07:15 2017 Wednesday ,29 November

Brazil's economy,shifting political landscape

GMT 09:52 2017 Monday ,30 January

Miss France crowned Miss Universe

GMT 05:22 2016 Wednesday ,19 October

Celebs come out in full force for Clinton

GMT 11:21 2011 Thursday ,24 November

2012 Volkswagen Golf

GMT 17:31 2011 Thursday ,10 November

Kia Rio 1.1 CRDi

GMT 10:07 2017 Wednesday ,08 March

Pacquiao-Khan fight off

GMT 11:46 2017 Thursday ,12 January

Sydney-Hobart yachting

GMT 09:35 2017 Wednesday ,06 December

Shura President Ali bin Saleh congratulates Speaker

GMT 14:09 2017 Wednesday ,20 September

Messi hits four as Barca maintain perfect start

GMT 12:57 2016 Tuesday ,20 December

Grammys to honor Nina Simone, Velvet Underground
 
 Emirates Voice Facebook,emirates voice facebook  Emirates Voice Twitter,emirates voice twitter Emirates Voice Rss,emirates voice rss  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

emiratesvoieen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen
emiratesvoice emiratesvoice emiratesvoice
emiratesvoice
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice