ZIMBABWEAN police have added new charges of insulting the national
flag and inciting public violence against Pastor Evan Mawarire, who
was arrested on Wednesday 01 February 2017 upon his return to the
country from the USA.

Pastor Mawarire, who is represented by Harrison Nkomo of Zimbabwe
Lawyers for Human Rights, was first charged on Wednesday 01 February
2017 with subverting a constitutional government as defined in Section
22 (2) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter
9:23 after he was arrested at Harare International Airport on his
return home and detained at Harare Central Police Station.

But on Thursday 02 February 2017, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP)
officers added more woes to Pastor Mawarire after they charged him
with insulting the national flag in contravention of Section 6 of the
Flag of Zimbabwe Act Chapter 10:10 and inciting public violence as
defined in Section 36 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform)
Act Chapter 9:23.

According to a warned and cautioned statement, which was recorded from
Pastor Mawarire on Thursday 02 February 2017, ZRP officers alleged
that the clergyman insulted the Zimbabwe national flag by using it to
brand his politically motivated criminal activities.

The ZRP officers charged that Pastor Mawarire would “wear” the
national flag each time he addressed or incited members of the public
or his followers to revolt against a constitutionally elected
government by urging all workers not to go to work and stage
demonstrations in circumstances which were calculated to show
disrespect for the flag or to bring the Zimbabwe national flag into
disrepute.

The addition of the new charges leaves Pastor Mawarire facing a total
of three charges which he has to answer to in court, where he is
expected to appear on Friday 03 February 2017.

Pastor Mawarire becomes the second clergyman to be charged with
insulting the national flag after Remnant Pentecostal Church leader
Pastor Philip Mugadza. Pasto Mugadza was arrested on Friday 18
November 2016 by ZRP officers for allegedly wearing the national flag
without first seeking permission from Zimbabwean authorities.

Prosecutors claimed that Pastor Mugadza contravened Section 6 of the
Flag Act by unlawfully and intentionally wearing or displaying the
national flag without securing prior permission from the “secretary”
as required by the Flag Act.