{"id":250456,"date":"2016-09-22T06:57:02","date_gmt":"2016-09-22T06:57:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=250456"},"modified":"2016-09-22T06:57:02","modified_gmt":"2016-09-22T06:57:02","slug":"zimbabwean-flag-abusers-face-jail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2016\/09\/zimbabwean-flag-abusers-face-jail\/","title":{"rendered":"Zimbabwean ‘flag abusers’ face jail"},"content":{"rendered":"
Zimbabweans risk imprisonment for abusing the national flag, the authorities have warned in the wake of anti-government protests.<\/p>\n
Those who bring it into disrepute face a $200 (\u00a3154) fine and\/or six months in jail, the justice ministry said.<\/p>\n
Nobody is allowed to sell the flag without prior permission from the ministry, its statement added.<\/p>\n
The flag is being used as a symbol of the calls for change by protesters under the #ThisFlag movement.<\/p>\n
It was started in April by a pastor who wrapped a flag around his neck and in a video posted on Facebook calling for Zimbabweans who were fed up with the perceived mismanagement of the country to stand up for themselves.<\/p>\n
Evan Mawarire’s social-media movement backed a stay-away campaign in July, the biggest strike action since 2005.<\/p>\n