By Own Correspondent| Opposition political party leaders and those at the fore front of social movements have reportedly gone into hiding amid revelations that state security agents are hunting them down over the violence during #ShutdownZimbabwe.

Promise Mkwananzi of the social movement, #Tajamuka/ Sesjikile which was part of the organisers of the protests, said on Friday that he was in hiding.

This follows the arrest of Pastor Evan Mawarire of the ‘This Flag Movement’ who was arrested last week and is being charged for treason.

ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure was also arrested and charged with treason. Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Peter Mutasa has not been accounted for since Tuesday with fears that he was abducted the Itai Dzamara-style.

Speaking to the Standard, Mkwananzi said that the brutal crackdown on activists will not dampen their spirits.

He said:

I have gone into hiding, but we are still strategising the next move. We want to advise President Emmerson Mnangagwa that he must do something to ameliorate the people’s economic misery within the next coming month.

He must attend to the economic issues and remove bond notes or else the people will continue to show their unhappiness. We want to make it clear that they can arrest, kill or even rape, but the crisis in this country will definitely push everyone to act.

Yes, we have been pushed into hiding because they want to kill us. Some have been arrested but here is a deal for Mnangagwa, let him release all those arrested and improve the country’s economy.

We shall not rest. We are giving them just a month and if nothing happens, this time, even the military will be on our side. The bond note must go. The 2% tax must fall and the fuel price hike should be reversed. We want the availability of fuel to be guaranteed at affordable prices.

State security agents are reportedly moving from house to house, arresting suspected protest leaders in a move reminiscent of the Mugabe era.