Police Not Investigating People Who Used VPN Services During Internet Shutdown- ZRP Commissioner, Charity Charamba

You are well aware that last week many Zimbabweans were forced to turn to the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPN) in the wake of the #ShutdownZimbabwe protests that prompted the government to shut down the internet.

Apparently, there is fake news circulating on social media saying that the police, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is investigating people who used VPN services during the internet shut down. But rest assured ZRP is not investigating anyone for that according to its Commissioner, Charity Charamba:

The Zimbabwe Republic Police wishes to inform the general public that a message circulating on social media purported to have originated from the ZRP advising certain members of the public that they are being investigated by the police on unauthorized use of Virtual Private Network (VPN) is fake.

In the fake message, some members of the public arc being advised to surrender their passports and any other travelling documents in their possession to police and to advise the police of any of their travel arrangements. Members of the public are advised to disregard the message as it does not originate from the ZRP. The ZRP does not communicate through unofficial and unverified social media accounts.

ZRP wishes to warn those misusing the social media, peddling lies in the name of ZRP that they face arrest and prosecution.

Surely it wouldn’t have made sense for ZRP investigate (or prosecute) people who used VPN services since even the government used them too.