Internet darkness in Zimbabwe – Econet and TelOne shuts down the Internet

Wondering why you cannot reach your friends and families in Zimbabwe via WhatsApp and other internet based platforms? Sorry you cannot do this because the telecom companies in Zimbabwe have shut down access to the Internet. No WhatsApp, no Facebook.

This is coming on the heels of the recent fuel demonstrations by Zimbabweans which has resulted in the death of five people and several others injured. This demonstrations were also fueled by social media messages sent round encouraging people not to open their shops for businesses and also to go onto the streets protesting the fuel crisis.

The internet blackout has been since 9.00a.m yesterday, 15 January and has been on till the time of writing this post.

The shutdown is a directive from the government so as to stop the propagation of the fuel protests.

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Update:

WhatsApp is now back on. It came back on at 4.00p.m. Nigerian time.