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Freed Zimbabwean activist calls for the strike to continue

Zimbabwe

A day after his release from jail due to a court rejection of the charges brought against him, Pastor Evan Mawarire has called for the strike to continue against Zimbabwe’s economic hardships.

He released a video on Facebook Thursday morning calling people to participate in the planned two-day strike, which ends today, to send a clear message to the government of their demands.

He said the huge support he got means there is unity to build the country while commending Zimbabweans for being peaceful.

“This is a way of sending a message to our government that enough is enough. We want you to know that we are not hating the government for nothing. We actually want you to know the reality on the ground,” he told his supporters in the Thank You video with a Zimbabwean flag around his neck.

“We have demands that we have asked the government to look at. We carry on with our stay away and shut down on Thursday … There is a hope inside you that this country needs and if you don’t get involved, you are robbing us of that hope,” Mawarire stressed.

The 39-year-old Pastor Mawarire is calling for an end to bond notes, import bans, government corruption and police harassment among others.

The #ThisFlag movement leader was earlier on Wednesday charged with attempt to overthrow the state via his internet video campaign that inspired recent strike actions in the country.

Zimbabwean activist charged with 'attempt to overthrow the state' https://t.co/KZFs73MKoV

— africanews (@africanews) July 13, 2016

Later on Wednesday evening, the Harare magistrate court rejected the new charge of subversion brought against him by the prosecution and he was released.

Thousands of Zimbabweans including lawyers and activists besieged the court in support of the activist carrying the Zimbabwean flag.

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