Zimbabwe imposes ‘total internet shutdown’ amid deadly crackdown against petrol-price protests
- At least 12 people have reportedly been killed in protests this week, with injured demonstrators streaming into Harare hospitals
- Unrest has been sparked by price hikes that make Zimbabwe’s petrol the most expensive in the world
Zimbabwe imposed a “total internet shutdown” on Friday in what critics fear is an attempt to hide a violent crackdown on protests against a dramatic fuel price increase.
Badly injured people streamed into a hospital in the capital city of Harare, and rights groups said at least 12 people have been killed this week.
Petrol in the economically shattered country is now the world’s most expensive, and since Monday Zimbabweans have heeded a nationwide call shared on social media to stay at home in protest.
Others took to the streets. Since then, graphic reports have emerged of security forces targeting activists and labour leaders while the government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa blames the opposition for the unrest.
Mnangagwa in Moscow asking for aid as Zimbabwe descends into chaos
“Our country is going through one of the most trying periods in its history,” the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference said, lamenting the government’s “intolerant handling of dissent” and its failure to halt economic collapse.