Take action for Evan Mawarire

Your Excellency,

On 13 July 2016 human rights defender Pastor Evan Mawarire was brought to Magistrate Court in Harare on charges of incitement to commit public violence. During the trial, the charge was changed to subverting a constitutionally elected government. This charge is a third schedule offence under Zimbabwe Law and requires a trial by the High Court.

Evan Mawarire is a pastor and human rights defender who works on exposing corrupt practices within the Zimbabwean government through non-violent means. On 19 April 2016 he released a video using the Zimbabwean flag as a metaphor for the deteriorating civil, political, social and economic situation in Zimbabwe. Additionally, the video aims to describe how Zimbabweans could enact positive changes to improve their human rights situation and to implement good governance. The video was part of a Zimbabwe-wide campaign entitled #ThisFlag, that included the non-violent movement, #ShutDownZimbabwe2016; a peaceful protest movement that encourages citizens, including civil servants, to strike on certain days, and to stay home in order to raise attention to the movement’s calls on the government.

At 9 am on 12 July 2016, Evan Mawarire went to Harare Central Police Station at the request of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) where he was questioned about his human rights work. He was detained and charged with incitement to commit public violence under section 36 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. Later the same day, a search warrant was issued by the Senior Magistrate at the Judicial Service Commission to search Evan Mawarire’s home, church offices and any person on the property for a stolen police helmet, baton stick and any subversive material. According to reports, after completing their searches, the police forces had not found the objects listed on the search warrant. On 13 July 2016 in Harare Magistrate Court, the charge was changed to subverting a constitutionally elected government, a crime that is required to be tried by the High Court under Zimbabwe Law.

Since the release of the #ThisFlag video, Evan Mawarire has been harassed and threatened a number of times. He has received anonymous phone calls where the persons demanded that he abandon his work and threatened his physical security and that of his family. On 16 May 2016, the human rights defender was insulted by Information Communication Technology Minister Supa Mandiwanzira as he was leaving a radio interview at the radio station, ZiFM Stereo.

I believe that the arrest, search and charges against human rights defender Evan Mawarire are directly related to his work in the defence of human rights, and I see this as part of a larger pattern of harassment against human rights defenders in Zimbabwe, especially those working against corruption and impunity and for good governance.

I urge the authorities in Zimbabwe to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release Evan Mawarire, as I believe that he is being held solely as a result of his legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of human rights;

2. Immediately drop the charge of subverting a constitutionally elected government against Evan Mawarire;

3. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Evan Mawarire;

4. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Zimbabwe are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.

Sincerely,