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Pastor Evan Mawarire Arrested Ahead of Nationwide Shutdown


Pastor Evan Mawarire has been arrested by the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
Pastor Evan Mawarire has been arrested by the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has charged Pastor Evan Mawarire for allegedly inciting people to engage in public violence following last week’s nationwide shutdown.

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 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.

Harare has accused Washington and Paris of backing the street protests and national work boycotts. But the two countries have dismissed the allegations as mere propaganda.

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