News / National
Government blocks internet access as stayaway enters day 2
15 Jan 2019 at 07:59hrs | Views
The government of Zimbabwe has reportedly instructed POTRAZ to shutdown mobile internet access for citizens so as to prevent them from communicating and organizing protests similar to the one that took place on Monday.
Mobile Internet users who spoke to Bulawayo24 confirmed that they have challenges in accessing mobile data.
"The government has shut us out, we are failing to access mobile data. Everyone else in my contact list is failing to access whatsapp also. We have been cut off from communication we are now in a mini state of emergency," said one Dumisani.
Another user Tapiwa said the government was behaving in a fascist manner because it was afraid of its citizens.
"We now have a government that fears its own citizens. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right and now one of the means to express ourselves which is via the internet has been curtailed. Only a guilty government can do this to its own citizens."
Another user Phiri told us that some citizens have found a way to access mobile data.
"Some of us have found a way to free ourselves from this mobile data blackout. We have managed to download VPN which when you install it in your phone you are able to bypass the system that they use to block mobile data. We are sharing links with other citizens so that they download it and stay in communications."
Political analyst Fortune Mlalazi said the danger that is there with the blocking of internet access especially after the violent protest on Monday which was caught on camera, is that people may be abducted and have no one to communicate with.
"As you saw that on Monday the country was rocked with violent protests. The Minister of State Security gave a briefing yesterday that the security forces are on high alert. And mind you this is not the minister of police or defense but of CIO. So it means anything maybe done to anyone and there is no form of communication to spread the news. So Zimbabweans have to be safe wherever they are." Mlalazi advised.
On Tuesday the mass stayaway organized by Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions entered Day 2.
Mobile Internet users who spoke to Bulawayo24 confirmed that they have challenges in accessing mobile data.
"The government has shut us out, we are failing to access mobile data. Everyone else in my contact list is failing to access whatsapp also. We have been cut off from communication we are now in a mini state of emergency," said one Dumisani.
Another user Tapiwa said the government was behaving in a fascist manner because it was afraid of its citizens.
"We now have a government that fears its own citizens. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right and now one of the means to express ourselves which is via the internet has been curtailed. Only a guilty government can do this to its own citizens."
"Some of us have found a way to free ourselves from this mobile data blackout. We have managed to download VPN which when you install it in your phone you are able to bypass the system that they use to block mobile data. We are sharing links with other citizens so that they download it and stay in communications."
Political analyst Fortune Mlalazi said the danger that is there with the blocking of internet access especially after the violent protest on Monday which was caught on camera, is that people may be abducted and have no one to communicate with.
"As you saw that on Monday the country was rocked with violent protests. The Minister of State Security gave a briefing yesterday that the security forces are on high alert. And mind you this is not the minister of police or defense but of CIO. So it means anything maybe done to anyone and there is no form of communication to spread the news. So Zimbabweans have to be safe wherever they are." Mlalazi advised.
On Tuesday the mass stayaway organized by Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions entered Day 2.
Source - Byo24News
