A Zimbabwean pastor has been arrested and put on trial due to allegations of him attempting to subvert the government.
Fr Evan Mawarire, a prominent critic of Zimbabwe’s president, Robert Mugabe, was arrested as he stepped down from his pulpit on charges that could see him imprisoned for 20 years.
The state has accused him of circulating social media posts calling on Zimbabweans to demonstrate against fuel shortages and price hikes.
The clergyman pleaded not guilty to two charges of subverting the government in February and the latest two charges of inciting public violence. The latter carries a penalty of up to 10 years in jail. “He was exercising his constitutional rights of challenging the policies of government. This was done in a lawful manner,” defence lawyer Harrison Nkomo told the court.