ORGANISERS of #ThisFlag campaign, fronted by cleric, Evan Mawarire, say the movement should continue in spite of its leader’s absence.
Source: Pastor Evan Mawarire speaks on his future – NewsDay Zimbabwe August 12, 2016
By STAFF REPORTER
This comes as Mawarire travelled to the US, with others accusing the cleric of selling out and abandoning the struggle he started.
“Every citizen is equally responsible for the rise and fall of this movement,” the movement said in a statement yesterday. “We must move away from the personality cult politics of our country that have got us to a place where we look to one man to be our Messiah.”
The campaign said Mawarire had an open-ended stay in the US, although it insisted #ThisFlag will continue in his absence, as “the citizens own the movement and will decide its future”.
This comes as the campaign has moved to formalise its structures to peacefully pressure President Robert Mugabe’s administration to address the prevailing socio-economic crisis in the country. “The Zimbabwe we want is a burden that rests squarely on all our shoulders,” the statement said.
“The civic duty to hold our government to account rests on all of us and not on Pastor Evan alone. He lit the fire and we cannot heap the survival and sustenance of the movement on him and his young family. The vision of a free and prosperous Zimbabwe should drive us, whilst the values of the movement remain the glue that binds us together.”
Mugabe has threatened unspecified action against Mawarire, who turned into a hero a few months ago, following his arrest on “trumped-up charges” of insulting the Zanu PF leader and seeking to unconstitutionally topple him.
When the courts acquitted him, Mawarire travelled to South Africa and later took his family to the US, where he is reportedly drumming up support for the movement.
The group said all its activities were being funded by Zimbabweans, both in and outside the country.
COMMENTS
Well done Pastor! You’ve hit the good times, like so many other treacherous Zimbabweans before you.
It’s what you were after, and you have succeeded, much like Tsvangirai did before you.
I personally understand his move and it would be a bad step for Evan to be here in Zim to be taken out by the resident monster. He has put his neck out and started what no one else would have the courage to do, and his drive moves on as he musters support out of the country. He has done well and we must keep the FLAG flying in the face of adversity and if any one else gets targeted then they too must leave. It proves nothing to be killed even if you are called a martyr. Lets move on the light is shining at the end of the tunnel !!
To have remained in RSA was OK, and understandable. but to go to the USA – far from Africa – smacks of profiteering.
Hi Joe, I do believe he has been invited to a meeting in DC on the 17th to do with the way forward in regard to protests because I believe the Western world have noted that Mugabe’s statue with feet of clay is crumbling. He needs to get support and I doubt about the profiteering side as I believe he is focused on the mission. Lets give him the nod and see what happens.
Hi Reverend, let’s see – but it plays well to Mugabe’s ‘Western puppets bent on re-colonisation’ propaganda, and leading from the rear doesn’t work. (Except in the case if Bob, himself, who led the war from as far away as he could get, in Maputo, and has been rewarded with a 36 year presidency).
OK… Cool!