Harare, Zimbabwe (News of the South)-We would like to invite you to endorse this letter addressed to President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe calling for the charges against human rights defender Pastor Evan Mawarire to be dropped when he appears in court on 25 September 2017. Pastor Evan is a human rights defender leading a pro-democracy social movement in Zimbabwe known as ThisFlag. He is accused of subverting an elected government and inciting violence – charges intended to silence him and crush the ThisFlag movement.

He was arrested and charged in July 2017 when he joined in solidarity with protesting university students demonstrating against fee increases. We are currently doing an online campaign for Pastor Evan which will accompany this letter to the President of Zimbabwe calling for his release.Please sign-on by Wednesday 20 September 2017.

In solidarity,
CIVICUS

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

President Robert G. Mugabe
President of the Republic of Zimbabwe
Office of the President
Munhumutapa Building, Samora Machel Avenue
Harare Zimbabwe
Email: info@opc.gov.zw

Cc: The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
Emerson D. Mnangagwa

Re: Call to drop unjustified charges against Pastor Evan Mawarire

Dear President Robert Mugabe,

We, the undersigned civil society organisations from across the globe, write to you to express our deep concerns over the judicial persecution, harassment and intimidation of human rights defender Pastor Evan Mawarire. As you are aware, Pastor Mawarire is due to appear in court on 25 September 2017.

The unjustified charge he faces – of “subverting a constitutionally elected government”, relates to his role in public protests demanding political changes and the respect of human rights in Zimbabwe. We regard the judicial persecution of Pastor Mawarire as a response by the government to his legitimate actions defending human rights, and as part of a broader pattern of acts of intimidation and attacks on human rights defenders and representatives of civil society.

Pastor Mawarire is the founder of #This Flag – a peaceful and independent social media movement, which highlights the socio-economic and political injustices experienced by millions of Zimbabweans and calls for democratic reforms. It has as one of its values, an affirmation that it is a “proponent of peaceful activism and that it abhors violence.”

In April 2016, he posted a video online in which he expressed serious concerns about the state of affairs in Zimbabwe. He also set up an online petition, inviting citizens to endorse it and urge the Minister of Energy and Power Development to resign over allegations of mismanaging state funds. Pastor Mawarire organised a stay-away action on 6 July 2016, calling on Zimbabweans to stay away from work to highlight grievances related to governance and demand the government address them.

This call and all other actions of Pastor Mawarire have been peaceful and this is exemplified in a statement he released on 8 July stating that “in the face of intimidation, abductions and arrests, we are determined to be builders of a better Zimbabwe than the one we have.”

Pastor Mawarire was initially arrested on 12 July 2016 and charged with “incitement of public violence” under the Criminal Law Act but was released on the same day after the Magistrate found his arrest unconstitutional and dismissed the charge against him. He fled Zimbabwe out or fear for his safety and that of his family for a period of six months and returned on 1 February 2017.

Upon his return, he was arrested at the airport by men in civilian clothes and charged with “subverting a constitutional government” under Section 22 of the Criminal Code. The charge includes Pastor Mawarire’s involvement in demonstrations that took place in August 2016 at the United Nations General Assembly in New York and subsequent demonstrations in Zimbabwe held after he had left.

The charge against Pastor Mawarire is an undisputable violation of his fundamental rights and is at variance with the Constitution of Zimbabwe. The Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of expression by stating that “every person has the right to freedom of expression which includes freedom to seek, receive and communicate ideas and other information and freedom of artistic expression and scientific research and creativity”.

Mr. President, we recognise the fact that despite the severe restrictions, Zimbabwe has an active civil society that advocates for the respect of human rights and against corruption and impunity. Human rights defenders like Pastor Mawarire remain victims of attacks, reprisals and judicial persecution by the government.

Others have simply been abducted and their whereabouts remain unknown. Since the launch of his # This Flag video, Pastor Mawarire has been subjected to threats, intimidation and acts of harassment several times through telephone calls from anonymous sources threatening him to stop his advocacy.

Mr. President, in light of the above, we call on your government to:

1) Drop all charges against Pastor Mawarire, which are in clear violation of the fundamental rights he has been exercising – rights that are guaranteed in the Zimbabwean constitution as well as regional and international human rights conventions to which Zimbabwe is a party.

2) Create an enabling environment for all citizens to enjoy their constitutionally guaranteed rights including the right to peaceful assembly, association and expression.

Thank you for your attention.