Following reports that Pastor Evan Mawarire might not be returning to Zimbabwe, we asked Kubatana WhatsApp subscribers what they thought of Pastor E’s concerns for his safety, and how comments that he might not be returning home how they felt. Here is a sampling of their responses:
- Pastor should come back touch not e anointed one
- Soon we will take part in the MDC demonstration to place soon #kustate house hakuna munhu and say no to bond money, we are tired of the dictator Robert Mugabe, his dictatorial rule is worse than Ian Smith’s,
- Yes its true Mr Mawarire can have something to fear but one thing he should remember is he has got whole lot of unfinished business. If he may agree with me that when he started this game many things were going to befell him. But i urge him as a *true* patriot he should come back and finished the already started business. One thing he should remember is *there are people like Morgan Richard Tsvangirai* whom Mugabe always talk about but he never left Zimbabwe let alone he remained here as he knew has got a big agenda. Let his *flag campaign* be like a novel which ends with questions lingering in people’s minds like *what will it be like now if Mr Mawarire remained in Zimbabwe ?* He should have courage to face the nonagenerian and finish Mugabe off. *Being talked about are very good signs that The First Secretary of Zanu Pf, Chancellor of all State Universities, Head of Government and State and Commander of the Defence Forces fears his next moves*
- As a youth myself, born in 1990, 26 years of age and having known nothing good about Zimbabwe, I believe Pastor Evan has taken a lead that every youth should take. There is a chance that he might be arrested again but I encourage him to come home. People will stand by him till the very end. We are tired of this government and it’s misrule so we are with him all the way..Pastor E should soldier on and not be afraid and I am sure God is for him no one can be against him.
- Zimbabwe does not belong to one man it belongs to Zimbabweans. Mawarire is a Zimbabwean he must come back we will support him whether it is good or bad we are behind him.
- God protects him.
- Pastor Mawarire should continue with the struggle until we are free
- I think Pastor Evan you should be aware and mobilize with us as citizen, we are suffering, no jobs, no money, but high degree of corruption, we can’t wait for so long seeing this corrupt regime.We need actions I’m sure, Don’t worry Evan heavens will rise up and smile upon us.
- More pple need to stand up and we need to fight for our freedom back we have suffered enough even Evans is in SA we must not stop to search our freedom together we stand divided we fall ZANU PF youths are jus trying to disturb as they are used by the elders but that can’t stop us moving forward
- Mawarire should fear for his life now that the President has openly criticised him. We can see him getting other dubious accusations. It’s very sad to see a fellow citizen fear returning home for speaking the truth. Pastor Evan should however return home so that the struggle continues. He has managed to put our suffering on the international scene we would like to continue showing the whole world what our country has been turned to we need Pastor E #comebackhomepastorE
- Pastor Mawarire has done a great job by making all of us aware we need to stand up and do something to fight the injustice actions in the country. At the moment, he is good to us alive and able to encourage people to make a stand for the country. I think he should stay in exile for a while till he can make a way to be in the country and stay safe
- I feel worried just cz pastor E is a brave man and also he is wanted by many people so without him there is no one who can influence pple kujamuka against the ruling party.he was well listened by the people and this time no one can do so. If i was pastor i wld stay there for my life. unotambwa yadzamara
- It’s best and right to stand up for the truth and what is right for Zimbabwe. I rally behind him, its high time for Zimbabweans to stand up and say no to all that is being done by our so called elected state admin
- If I was pastor, I would make a pact with the Europeans. Viva Zimbabwe!!!
- What i think is mawarire should not run away from zanu pf for us to get that needed freedom we need him to lead us towards that freedom. Zanu pf youth are used its time they wake up now because they have kids to look after.
- Mawarire’s fears are REAL.
- All what you had stated concerned pastor E M, I think its better to stay in SA coz the ruling part can destroy kill. He can lose his life sure he can kill that guy
- I feel devastated that Pastor Evan is not coming back soon…what do we do now..whose going t. Lead us in our road to democracy..if only there were people like him.if only I had th courage like his. Is it possible to change identity, pastor should just change his identity and come back…unknownimus
- As of Evan Mawarire he must come back home coz the nation has already showed that it is fully supporting him
- Thanks for the updates. I feel Pastor Evan has put his life at risk to voice our concerns & should he feel that his safety is threatened he has the right to stay wherever he feels safe.
- The current situation is bad.
- His fears are genuine & reality of his famousness are now dawning on him nd us.The political situation nd past experience of what happened to those who have publicly denounced Uncle Rob is fearsome on its own but what boggles my mind is the moment he decided to take Uncle Rob head on fear should have been removed from his vocabulary but again he is also human..#this flag should continue because it’s for us citizens though we can’t take away pastor Mawarire’s pioneering
- Its better to live here in SA because he going to be in hot soup
- I think he shoud stay for along time becouse if he come back something may happen
- These zanu youth are shame to real zimbabwe because it seems they can’t clearly see the real truth that our economy can not be built by hatred.they hate to be told truth that they party have failed. But the real truth is many people in zanu pf are supporting pastor and the campaign because their concern are real.
- Personally I think it’s late for the president to try and touch Pastor Evan because clearly the old man was rattled by simple but determined moves that really hit over the head. Zanu is real funny because all they do is ape their opposition (anyone with a brain) case & point : ‘pistol-in-your-back million man March and today’s nonsense. The movement to rid the nation of all this corruption and filth must go on. – Terence
- Hi there, thank you so much for the information, l suggest that Pastor E. Must come home. Remember there is a petition which has gathered more than 15000 seeking UN intervention. We are really fed up with Mugabe’s regime, in the event they abduct Pastor E, we will retaliate. Mugabe regime is well aware that abducting Pastor E will lead to civil war. We need to organise another demo asking for the release of Itai Dzamara.
- Pastor Mawarire’s fears are genuine. The statement of a whole Head of State against an individiual who has not committed a crime but exercising his Rights, is worrying. If he decides to seek asylum status, that is something he has to make a decision with his family. His work as an animator and pedagogue of the oppressed massed can still be done from wherever he will be. He did not need to be physically in Zimbabwe to get #tajamuka on the ground. The seeds of his pedagogical movement #this flag have been sown all over Zimbabwe. #Beatthepot is yet another movement that comes from Pastor Mawarire’s pedagogical work. Cyber space and technological revolution has taken over and the Pastor can focus on his flock congregation. – Phillip
- Pastor E you are doing good things keep on we are behind you
- I would prefer Pastor E not to return for now because of the utterances by the president, I don’t know if the president has ever listened to Pastor E or maybe those corrupt Cde’s around him are twisting facts. our Pastor E’s safety comes first. he can still press the buttons while in RSA. #ThisFlag “a luta continua, vitória é certa”
- its kind of heartbreaking to learn that the pastor’s not coming back but at the same time he knew what he was getting himself into in the first place so who is going to finish what he started but if he does not feel safe here then fine because he has every right to live
- To pastor E we are also worried as fellow country man but forward ever backward never.the pathetic situation is affecting even the unborn.i feel like shade a tear. God hear us!