Zimbabwe’s police were out in full force as activists called for a two-day protest stay-away and #This Flag activist pastor Evan Mawariri was due to appear in court on charges of inciting public violence on Wednesday.

Mawariri is a leading force behind a subversive social media protest campaign against 92-year-old President Robert Mugabe.

Initial reports on Wednesday across social media platforms suggested that many civil servants – who did heed a stay-away call last week – have reported for work and banks in major cities were open.

NewsDay  newspaper reported on Wednesday that Zanu PF officials and government security agents had “threatened to brutally clamp down on workers and companies found complying with the planned mass stay-away”.

After charging Mawarire‚ police raided his home and church office. His wife‚ Samantha‚ told the newspaper: “I can confirm that there was a team of gentlemen and one lady‚ who came with a search warrant‚ and they had my husband in handcuffs and they explained that they had arrested him under a certain section of the law.”

The Herald newspaper newspaper reported that government had provided alternate transport for commuters and deployed a heavy police contingent countrywide.

Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo on Tuesday blamed “hostile foreign embassies” for attempts to bring the country to a standstill.

Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Professor Paul Mavhima warned schools‚ including private schools‚ not to turn away children because of the “illegal” stay-away. – TMG Digital