Zimbabwe court acquits Mugabe critic Evan Mawarire

Harare, Nov 30 (IANS) Leading Zimbabwean opposition activist Pastor Evan Mawarire has been acquitted on charges of trying to overthrow Robert Mugabe's former government.

The organiser of last year's #ThisFlag protests faced 20 years in prison had he been convicted.

A Harare high court judge ruled there was no evidence that he had "urged a violent removal of government", BBC reported on Wednesday.

The case was seen as a test of judicial independence after the forced resignation of Mugabe last week.

The former president, who stepped down after soldiers placed him under house arrest, was long accused of using the courts to hound his political opponents.

Tweeting a selfie taken in the courtroom, the smiling pastor called on his fellow citizens to join in "building a better Zimbabwe".

Pastor Mawarire galvanised people outside and inside Zimbabwe, encouraging them to protest about perceived corruption and economic mismanagement under Mugabe.

Some Zimbabweans will see his acquittal as a symbolic victory, coming just after Mr Mugabe's resignation and the inauguration of his former deputy.

However, Amnesty International's regional director for Southern Africa, Deprose Muchena, warned there was still work to do.

"Hopefully the ruling signals a new beginning for the country, where the political repression which characterised Mugabe's rule will no longer be tolerated," he said.

"The task for President Mnangagwa now is to ensure that a culture exists in Zimbabwe in which voices from outside his government are free to air their opinions on an equal platform, without fear of facing criminal charges."

The acquittal had been expected because when the pastor was granted bail, a judge had hinted that the case against him was weak.