February 3 2017 – A Zimbabwean court on Friday (today) has denied bail a prominent pastor who gained international attention after launching a social media protest against President Robert Mugabe.
Pastor Evan Mawarire is being charged with trying to topple the government.
“There is no offence committed, but the magistrate saw it otherwise.So we are going to the High Court on Monday to apply for bail,” says Mawarire’s lawyer Harrison Nkomo.
Mawarire was detained on Wednesday this week at Harare airport on arrival from the United States.
The pastor fled Zimbabwe first to South Africa and then to the US six months ago, shortly after being arrested and charged with attempting to overthrow the government. He was later released on a technicality.
Mawarire, says he does not belong to a political party, started the #ThisFlag social media movement last May.
With the national flag wrapped around his neck, the pastor complained in video messages on Facebook and Twitter about the country’s politics, economic demise and corruption.
Amnesty International and the European Union have expressed concern over his arrest. – dpa
