Zimbabwe's Mugabe blasts church pastor initiating job boycotts

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Tuesday trashed the leader of anti-government protests that rocked the country two weeks ago as people expressed dissatisfaction with deteriorating economic conditions and perceived corruption.

The 39-year-old pastor, Evan Mawarire, used social media to spread his message across the country and even beyond the borders under the banner of a loose movement called #ThisFlag to lead the biggest protests since 2005.

Zimbabweans in South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom also demonstrated at Zimbabwean missions in those countries.

Addressing mourners at the burial of former Secretary to the President and Cabinet Charles Utete at National Heroes Acre, Mugabe did not have kind words for Mawarire and warned the people against following "fake" men of the cloth who were bent on instigating violence.

Utete collapsed and died at home last Friday.

Mugabe alleged that Mawarire and his colleagues were being used by external forces.

"They are not part of us. They are not part of our thinking; they are not part of us as we try to live together. You can't urge people to adopt violence, violent demonstrations as a way of solving grievances, no. We will say no, forever no," he thundered.

He said he would have hoped that Mawarire would preach peace instead, and not involve people in violence.

"So beware these men of cloth, not all of them are preachers of the bible," he said.

However, despite the few incidents of violence that took place during the job action, Mawarire had called for the people to maintain peace during the demonstration, in fact urging them to stay at home.

He was arrested last Tuesday on charges of inciting violence and disturbing the peace, but the state later sought to alter the charges to subversion.

The court ruled, however, that the state could not lay the new charges in court as it was unconstitutional and ordered his release.

Mawarire is currently in South Africa and has promised to return soon, quelling rumours that he has fled the country. Enditem