OVER 100 LAWYERS TURNED OUT TO HELP THIS GUY – FOR FREE

Over 100 lawyers turned out to help this guy – for free

Scores of lawyers turned out in force today offering their services to a pastor who has been leading protests in Zimbabwe.
They joined supporters of protest leader Evan Mawarire outside the court where he was set to appear after
being arrested during a surge of unrest against President Robert Mugabe’s government.
Mawarire, a pastor who has been charged with inciting public violence, was an organiser of a one-day nationwide shutdown last week when offices, shops, schools and some government departments stayed closed. Protest organisers had appealed for Zimbabweans to hold another strike starting on Wednesday, but their calls were largely unsuccessful with businesses and schools open as usual.
Police were on patrol in the capital Harare after Mawarire, who founded the internet ThisFlag protest movement, was arrested on Tuesday.

Anti-riot police guarded the entrance to Harare magistrate’s court (Picture: Getty)

A series of demonstrations in Zimbabwe, where protests are rare under Mugabe’s authoritarian rule, have been driven by an economic crisis that left banks short of cash and the government struggling to pay its workers.The end is coming for Robert Mugabe: Zimbabwe looks to be on the brink of revolution ‘They made sure that they arrested the people who are most vocal and fearless – that is why the response is not as good as it was last week,’ Onias Marongwa, who works in a grocery store, told AFP. More than 150 mainly young supporters, many carrying the Zimbabwean flag that has become a symbol of the protests, sang and chanted outside the magistrate’s court in Harare.

Mawarire was brought into court through a back entrance, as scores of lawyers from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights group offered to represent him.

Our only weapon is our voices, our flags and bibles.We love peace! @MMlilo1 @Makil @PastorEvanLive @NewsDayZimbabwe pic.twitter.com/uPjzNaJvcg

— Wellington Mahohoma (@WellieMahohoma) July 13, 2016

Crowd continues 2 grw. @BenManyenyeni @MMlilo1 @Makil @NewsDayZimbabwe pic.twitter.com/BArfFknEsV

— Wellington Mahohoma (@WellieMahohoma) July 13, 2016

Zimbabwean protesters wait outside the Harare Magistrates court before the arrival of arrested Pastor Evan Mawarire, in the capital Harare, Zimbabwe July 13, 2016. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo

‘The arrest of Pastor Evan Mawarire appears to be a well-calculated plan to intimidate him and other activists ahead of the national shutdown,’ Muleya Mwananyanda of Amnesty International said in a statement.

‘Instead of suppressing dissenting voices, Zimbabwean authorities should be listening to protesters.’
Amnesty said about 300 people had been arrested for participating in protests around the country since they started last week.
The recent demonstrations have revealed long-bubbling frustration in a country where 90 percent of the population are not in formal employment.
Mugabe, 92, has overseen years of economic decline, repression of dissent, allegedly rigged elections and mass emigration since he came to power in 1980.
Last week security forces used tear gas and water cannon to disperse violent protests outside Harare that erupted over police officers allegedly using road blocks to extort cash from motorists.
Television footage showed police beating protesters with sticks.