Zimbabwe News Online: Mawarire court hearing re-scheduled as thousands throng the Harare magistrates court

Mawarire court hearing re-scheduled as thousands throng the Harare magistrates
court
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online reporter on 13/07/2016 12:37:00


The Zimbabwe Republic Police has charged Pastor Evan Mawarire for allegedly
inciting people to engage in public violence following last week’s nationwide
shutdown.
More than a thousand Zimbabweans have besieged the Harare magistrates’ court
in solidarity with #ThisFlag campaigner Pastor Evan Mawarire who is facing
charges of inciting violence.
Police have since taken Mawarire back to Harare Central police station,
apparently for further detention. Dozens of police details, armed with baton
sticks are also at the court where #Tajamuka pressure group leader Promise
Mkwananzi made an address, reiterating they were not intending to cause any
violence.
Mawarire’s lawyer, Harrison Nkomo, a member lawyer of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for
Human Rights, told Studio 7 that police searched Mawarire’s Avondale home and
the church he leads in Milton Park.
“They said they were looking for subversive materials, a crushed police helmet
and a baton stick allegedly seized from the police in last week’s protests.”
But Nkomo said the search did not yield anything.
Police sources told Studio 7 that Mawarire, who was handcuffed when he was
arrested, is currently being interrogated at Harare Central Police Station and
will likely appear in court Wednesday.
He surrendered himself to the police at 9am yesterday in the company of his
lawyer. Mawarire has called for further shutdowns on Wednesday and Thursday in a
surge of public anger over the country's worsening economic crisis and alleged
police brutality.
Meanwhile, the main opposition party, The MDC-T has said it unreservedly and
strenuously condemns the unlawful arrest of Pastor Evan Mawarire.
"The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) should be a law-abiding and professional
Police force that should jealously guard and protect the fundamental human
rights and freedoms of all Zimbabweans in accordance with the supreme law of the
land, the national constitution.
Pastor Evan Mawarire has been consistently calling upon Zimbabweans to engage in
peaceful and non-violent resistance to the excesses of the deeply divided,
corrupt and collapsing Zanu PF regime. Indeed, it is the constitutional right of
every citizen to be able to engage in peaceful and non-violent demonstrations as
clearly enshrined in Section 59 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe," reads part of
the statement.