Organisers of last week’s three-day stayaway have gone into
hiding together with some opposition MPs as the crackdown by state agents
continues.
Promise Mkwananzi of the social movement, #Tajamuka, which
was part of the organisers of the protests, said on Friday that he was in
hiding. He, however, said the crackdown would not dampen their spirits and they
would go ahead to plan the next course of action by citizens to show their
displeasure over the worsening conditions of life in the country.
“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,” said Mkwananzi.
“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.”
The three-day national shutdown was organised by the
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) along with other social groups,
Tajamuka and #This Flag led by Evan Mawarire, who was arrested last week on
treason charges.
Since Tuesday, police have been looking for ZCTU president
Peter Mutasa who is also said to be in hiding. Speaking from his hideout,
Mutasa said police and armed soldiers were harassing his family in a bid to
flush him out.
“They came looking for me, harassed my family in the hope
that they would get me. It is time people realised that this is not a Mutasa
agenda or idea — it is the idea of Zimbabweans who have been suffering for
years under this repressive regime. We shall fight through until we get there,”
Mutasa said on Tuesday.
But since then, his mobile phone has not been going through
raising fears he might have been found and abducted.
Also on target has been Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition boss
Rashid Mahiya, whose elderly mother was allegedly beaten up and harassed by
armed security personnel on Friday.
MDC MP for Chitungwiza North Godfrey Sithole is also to
have gone into hiding. There are reports that security agents are looking for
him in connection with the stayaway. Standard
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