Here Are Some Reactions To Zimbabwe’s Internet Shutdown

There’s been a lot of unrest in Zimbabwe over this past week and our government decided the best way to respond is by completely shutting down the internet. After shutting down the internet, a certain Deputy Minister of information still had the audacity to go ahead and say the internet was working just fine. In fact, it was working too well and got congested according to him but that’s beside the point of this article. Of course there’s been some backlash by those with access to the internet and here are some of their thoughts

https://twitter.com/africanbutterzw/status/1085229394635956224?s=19

We strongly condemn the switching off of internet in Zimbabwe as well as the brutalization and killing of citizens demonstrating against the highest fuel prices in the world. #Mnangagwa is now resorting to his tried and tested repression tactics of his ugly past

— Zwelinzima Vavi (@Zwelinzima1) January 15, 2019

Seeing this hashtag #SwitchBackOnZw has brought a lump in my throat. People rooting for us in our absence. Rooting for us cause we couldn’t do it for ourselves. Silenced against our will. 🇿🇼

— MJ | Mama E 🇿🇲🇿🇼 (@kayolicious) January 16, 2019

1/2 A family member just texted via sms from #Zimbabwe saying the minister of media issued a statement saying “we have not jammed the internet, there is too much congestion because people are dowloadin videos” #ShutDownZim #SwitchBackOnZW 😡😡😡

— Vee’Yvonne_❤️🇿🇼 (@beevon19) January 15, 2019

https://twitter.com/callmetinashe/status/1085203394019684352

Meanwhile this is useful information from @AlJazeera. The Zim internet shutdown is unconstitutional! #SwitchBackOnZW #KeepItOnZW pic.twitter.com/1LeSAPKxmS

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) January 15, 2019

#Zimbabwe has just experienced its first total #InternetShutdown. The country's 3MNOs & ISPs have no access. No explanation has been given by either the service providers or govt #ZimbabweShutDown cc @accessnow @CPJAfrica @OSISA @kubatana @unescoROSA @guyberger @forfreemedia

— MISA Zimbabwe (@misazimbabwe) January 15, 2019

They can shut down the internet but they cannot shut down the cries of a people who want their dignity restored. #Zimbabwe pic.twitter.com/o8Zk4BQEMg

— Fadzayi Mahere🇿🇼 (@advocatemahere) January 16, 2019

2. I invite telecoms corporates to read s61(3)(b) of the Constitution which gives them freedom of establishment and expressly states that they are independent of control by government and political interests. #ZimbabweShutDown

— Fadzayi Mahere🇿🇼 (@advocatemahere) January 16, 2019

Here, the Deputy Minister in the @InfoMinZW lies that the internet was down due to congestion yet @econetzimbabwe has told us they were ordered to shut down the internet, following a warrant issued by the Office of @edmnangagwa. #ZimbabweShutDown pic.twitter.com/Cd8FA58zGf

— Fadzayi Mahere🇿🇼 (@advocatemahere) January 16, 2019

Yo! That an entire nation can be turned off the internet like we are naughty little kids is incredulous. Zimbabwe can’t be open for business @ this rate.

My condolences to families & friends of 6 lives reportedly lost and 200 odd wounded due to the current fuel protests.🙏🇿🇼❤️

— Nigel MK Chanakira (@nigelchanakira) January 16, 2019

The shutting down of the internet was clearly unlawful but when are African leaders ever held to the law? And to make matters worse social media remains inaccessible to some and there has been a VPN block which means even those with VPNs are now affected once again. It’s surprising that the government would go to this length to suppress the voice of the people but alas, this is where Zimbabwe is in 2019…