Zimbabwe Orders Mobile Operators to Disconnect WhatsApp, Amidst Nationwide Protests

Zimbabwe Orders Mobile Operators to Disconnect WhatsApp, Amidst
Nationwide Protests

WhatsApp, Facebook’s messaging service experienced downtime on mobile networks in Zimbabwe on Wednesday as protest action started taking root.

Zimbabweans woke up to no WhatsApp connectivity through their mobile phones on Wednesday, a rare occurrence in the country over the past few years.

Media reports the government asked mobile operators to cut WhatsApp connectivity amidst nationwide protest. 

The protests have been organised to raise public outrage over government corruption, delayed salaries for civil servants and police roadblocks.

Civil servants have also downed tools, prompting school children to stay away from school and public hospitals to run with limited staff.

This comes on the back of protests in Beitbridge at the weekend over import restrictions.

Harare, the capital, was also rocked by protests in the public transport sector with workers in the sector blocking transport movement over police harassment.

Pictures of the protests and communications urging Zimbabweans to "shut down" the country have been spread over WhatsApp.

Econet Wireless, the biggest of Zimbabwe's three mobile operators, confirmed around mid-day on Wednesday that WhatsApp was down on its network.

Econet, though, did not disclose the reason for the downtime.
"Econet would like to confirm that WhatsApp is currently down. We will notify you once it is working again," Econet's customer care department said in numerous Twitter responses to subscribers.
Meanwhile, there was no clarification from other mobile operators in Zimbabwe.
such as NetOne and Telecel Zimbabwe. 

However, other subscribers on these networks also complained that they were struggling to access WhatsApp on the networks.

Although WhatsApp has been down in Zimbabwe since early Wednesday, Facebook and Twitter platforms were working well.

Zimbabweans took to Twitter to express outrage over the termination of WhatsApp and to share pictures of the strike online.

However, government officials still claim it has been business as usual despite most people staying away. Minister of higher education, Jonathan Moyo on Wednesday morning tweeted;

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