National Patriotic Front (NPF) spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire has accused political activist Pastor Evan Mawarire of being sponsored by the military to oppose former President Robert Mugabe.
In 2016, Evan Mawarire founded the #ThisFlag movement which led to major protests during Mugabe’s reign as Zimbabwe’s leader culminating in a successful nationwide shutdown.
In a post via Twitter on Friday, the NPF spokesperson claimed Mawarire was an agent of a military faction that sought to oust Mugabe.
“The other side you don’t tell people is that you opposed him at the behest of the army, they gave you protection which was never given to those vawakaitisa, they bought you and your family air tickets, hapana chatisingazivi vakuru.
“Enjoy working with the army, your work isn’t finished,” Jealousy Mawarire said.
The “air tickets” are likely in reference to the pastor having fled to the United States of America whilst on bail facing charges of treason.
Upon his return he was arrested at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport facing charges of treason, of which he was later acquitted.
Jealousy Mawarire’s allegations were in reaction to the pastor’s tweet yesterday (Mugabe’s birthday), in which he said he forgave the former president.
“Robert Mugabe you turn 95 today. It’s hard to say happy birthday because millions had unhappy birthdays or fewer ones, they died due to your brutality.
“I suffered at your direct instruction but I’m strong enough to say I forgive you. I hope you live long enough to ask those you destroyed for forgiveness,” the activist said.
In an interview pastor Evan said Jealousy Mawarire is very creative. “Let me commend him for being creative. If I am a military agent how come I am under arrest and facing trial for trying to over throw this new regime? I have remained consistent and I continue to speak out. I am facing trial in this new dispensation because i have not changed my stance,” Pastor Evan said.