Evan Mawarire

Evan Mawarire (born 7 March 1977) is a Zimbabwean pastor and democratic activist. He came to prominence during the 2016–17 Zimbabwe protests that challenged the rule of Robert Mugabe’s government. It was reported that Mawarire urged the people of Zimbabwe to remain defiant and refuse to return to work after the protests. In late 2017, it was reported by BBC News that Mawarire was acquitted by a Zimbabwe court where he faced a potential 20-year prison sentence if convicted for allegedly trying to overthrow Robert Mugabe. Thousands turned up at his hearing sparking a spontaneous social movement that challenged corruption, injustice, and poverty. On 13 July 2017 at least 150 lawyers stood up in court to represent Mawarire, while thousands amassed outside a Harare courthouse.

Mawarire spent his early childhood in Harare, before moving to Mashonaland West Province. He attended Amandas Primary School in the town of Concession. At age 16, he was elected to Zimbabwe's child parliament, which was created to celebrate the International Day of the African Child. He was also elected child President of Zimbabwe. He went on to study at the Harare Institute of Technology, where he earned an Auto Electrician diploma in 1996.

He worked in business for a number of years, while at the same time volunteering at his church, teaching Sunday school. He found the work at his church more fulfilling, and in 2002 he quit his job and went to Bible college. From 2002 to 2007, he was the young adult and youth pastor at Celebration Churches International in Harare, before serving as the church's regional director in the United Kingdom from 2007 to 2010. In 2010, he established his own church, His Generation Church, in Harare.

In 2016, Mawarire founded the democracy movement #ThisFlag with the intention of removing the government of president Robert Mugabe. The movement was also considered by some as the most influential civilian-led political movement in Zimbabwe's history.