19 July 2016: Mugabe strongly criticizes #ThisFlag movement
Tension beetwen oposition and government in Zimbabwe is reaching crisis peak. It seems like nobody wants to announce a ceasefire and sit at the negotiating table. President Robert Mugabe said that an icon of the This Flag movement, Evan Mawarire, was not a true preacher and accused him of being sponsored by foreign countries in order to destabilise Zimbabwe. Mugabe doesn’t appear to be concerned by numerous anti-government protests outbreaking in the country. He claims that every person (especially Mr Mawarire) who is not content about current situation in imbabwe should leave country immediateley and find a peaceful area to far away from there, closer to the sponsors. Sponsors because president is strongly convinced that every objection to his activity is caused by foreign fundings and unclear intentions.
Furtnermore Mugabe questioned Mawarire's religious credentials. It was the first time President Robert Mugabe had mentioned pastor publicly by name.
92-years old president doesn’t follow social media and new communication canals which is why the size and actual popularity of certain protests is so suprising for him. Through his campaign pastor Mawarire organised participants via Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp.
We already written about one of the biggest riots in Zimbabwe led by pastor Mawarire. After that, he was briefly arrested by public forces but released when a court unexpectedly threw out the charges.
Mawarire was first charged with inciting public violence despite the fact that he has called on Zimbabweans to take a peaceful stand against unemployment and corruption and avoided directly criticising the president. Currently he stays in South Africa and strongly denies rumours that he’s seeking asylum.
