Meet Evan Mawarire: Zimbabwean Activist
Evan Mawarire recently joined the ranks at the Dissident Project, and he brings with him an incredible testimony. Originally from Zimbabwe, Evan endured the dictatorship of Robert Mugave, who ruled the country with an iron will for over 40 years. During that time, Zimbabwe experienced some of the worst economic depression in history, with the average citizen making just a few dollars a day.
Evan, a pastor and father, started out like any other citizen. “I was just a normal person trying to put food on the table for my family. At some point, you just couldn’t make it and I got fed up.”
Evan Mawarire
On that particular day, Evan posted a short video to Facebook telling his fellow citizens that what they were enduring at the hands of their government was unjust. He talked about freedom and a head of state that was accountable to the people—all things that Zimbabwe had long since deserted. Before he knew what had happened, Evan’s 4 minute video was trending and sparked a revolution with him at the forefront. In an attempt to organize peaceful protests in a country where gathering in large numbers was illegal, Evan organized a sit-in strike. On that day, commerce in Zimbabwe shut down completely. Authorities arrested Evan and had him tortured.
Though they tried to prosecute him on faulty charges of treason, Evan’s countrymen flocked to his side and protested the injustice, leading to his release. Evan escaped the country the next day and settled in America. In his absence, Robert Mugave declared him an enemy of Zimbabwe, and made it clear that he would be arrested if he ever returned. “Hearing your name spoken by a man like that,” Evan said, “sends chills down your spine.” Even still, Evan struggled with the reality of what fleeing tyranny like that meant for democracy. “Democracy is not something that you have,” he said. “It is something you do. I did not truly have it in America because my home was not free. I felt called to go and show them the way. Saying goodbye to my family and going back was one of the hardest things I have ever done.”
Six months later, he returned to Zimbabwe. Evan was arrested the minute he stepped off the plane. For the next three years, he fought to establish democracy in Zimbabwe, enduring multiple stints in prison and constant surveillance by the corrupt government. Finally, Evan and his group took part in the protest that led to the resignation of Robert Mugave. Although the military which filled the dictator’s absent place proved more tyrannical, Evan said “the people had seen that they held the power. And they had felt what it is like to work as one. It was inspiring.”
Evan finally returned to America to raise his children; however, he has not stopped spreading his message of liberty. On our shores, he continues to advocate for action. “Nothing of value comes without sacrifice,” he said. “Every freedom we have in the United States was bought and paid for by somebody. If we do not continue to protect it, we will have to pay that price someday.”
Evan’s story gets to the heart of the Dissident Project’s mission and goal. We are proud to call him one of us and excited to have him share his story with the world.
Welcome Evan!
