It seems the shutdown protests might be getting shut down in a different manner all together as internet access to instant messaging service WhatsApp and social media platform Facebook is no longer working on certain networks.
NetOne subscribers have been complaining that their access to these two services has been blocked off since around 1 AM with access only being restored when they install a VPN. Scrolling through Twitter, it seems there are a lot of people going through these errors and here are some of the complaints:
@OpenObservatory App tests run just now on a @NetOneCellular connection indicate a very high possibility that #Whatsapp, #Telegram & web connectivity are censored on the network#ZimbabweShutDown cc @TabaniMoyo @angelaquintal @kubatana @netblocks @accessnow @ZimMediaReview pic.twitter.com/G3R8j9UHvb
— MISA Zimbabwe (@misazimbabwe) January 15, 2019
If you want to continue using these services, what’s your next option? Well, the VPN is your next bet. The whole country is going lights out as every major internet service provider and network is turning off access to WhatsApp and Facebook. Econet and TelOne have done the same, and so too has ZOL.
Also read:
- Econet and TelOne Shut Down The Internet Completely, Now It’s Darkness
- Social Media Blocked In Zimbabwe As Protests Continue
- The Internet Has Changed The Way We Protest For Better And For Worse
- Here’s How To Continue Online If The Zimbabwe Government Shuts Down The Internet
- Top Twitter Accounts To Follow During The Shutdown Zimbabwe Protests
I support the shut down if malicious and destructive messages are being used to incite people to hurt other people and destroy property.
Tunnel bear seems to be experiencing high levels of traffic
Let’s behave like ppl not thugs hey whatever it is lets not burn cars its barbaric
haiwawo mapererwa kah makuvharisa social media
Clueless regime. This is the perfect response of a cornered dictatorship. Shutting down internet wont solve the problem at hand. People have had enough, yes violence and looting is unacceptable but you cant blame these millions of unemployed youths with degrees rooming the streets doing nothing while the king is blowing $25M US in a useless trip
As of today Netone isn’t even sending text messages.