Pastor Evan must be released – Court

A Harare magistrate has ruled that This Flag founder and activist Pastor Evan Mawarire must be released.

The news was release late on Wednesday to the joy of well-wishers (about 2,000 of them by some estimates) conducted a vigil outside the Magistrates Courts at Rotten Row that started early in the morning as they pressed for his release. They were led by a strong contingent of religious leaders from Harare.

Mawarire had been arrested on charges of public violence charges. The charges were suddenly changed to ‘subverting a constitutional government’ at the eleventh hour. This was challenged by his lawyers led by Harrison Nkomo.

It got so surreal at some point when the Magistrate asked prosecutors to produce the caution statement which they failed to do. The constitution requires that a person be informed of the reason they are being arrested at the time of it being effected.

Prominent journalist Ranga Mberi called it a goosebumpy day. It certainly was.