Panicky Zimbabwe government shuts down internet
Three people, including a police officer, died in Monday’s violent protests over a sharp fuel-price hike
Zimbabwe's government shut down the internet on Tuesday in its effort to quell the protests that have hit hard over the past three days. Social media platforms — particularly WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter — had become popular avenues to spread messages to encourage the protests and work boycotts. Three people, including a police officer, died in Monday’s violent protests over the fuel-price hike, Zimbabwe’s information minister said on Tuesday. Independent sources put the recent death toll at five. Justifying the crackdown, information, media & broadcasting services minister Monica Mutsvangwa said: “I can confirm that three people have died. The events of the past 36 hours have been characterised by well co-ordinated criminal behaviour, destructive and violent pattern which includes the murder of a police officer, Constable Mane of ZRP Entumbane, Bulawayo, who was stoned to death in cold blood and the injury of several others, barricading of roads and extorting money from motorists...
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