Facebook, Whatsapp users face glitches in Zimbabwe as civil servants strike

By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |

Zimbabwean citizens and residents reported extreme difficulties accessing their Facebook and Whatsapp accounts on Wednesday as civil servants entered their second day of industrial stay aways.

An informal survey by Nehanda Radio revealed that Facebook and Whatsapp users started experiencing problems just before 8am.

Most civil servants who have for a long time been facing long delays getting their salaries are heeding the call to stay away from work while doctors and medical staff at government hospitals are on a go slow.

The public sector industrial action is coming hard on the heels of violent protests in Harare and Beitbridge as citizens protested against an import ban and police corruption, in addition to other economic problems that President Mugabe’s government is failing to fix.

Sources told Nehanda Radio that they were experiencing unusual disruptions on Facebook as Whatsapp came in drabs and voice calls suddenly cut.

Most of them said they were receiving an odd message on Facebook.

The message reads: “Sorry, 0.facebook.com is only supported by certain mobile networks and is not available from your mobile network. If you are contacting your mobile carrier, mention that your IP address is not supported.”

Social media addicts said they were buying short messaging bundles to communicate.

“I need to be in touch with what is happening so I have bought sms bundles. My workmates, relatives and friends are doing the same,” she said.

Difficulties in accessing social media tools during the unrests follow a reported meeting by the Joint Operations Command (JOC) on Tuesday to deliberate on the protests.

The command comprises police, intelligence and military bosses and their juniors and works closely with the ruling Zanu PF to strategise on security issues.

President Robert Mugabe recently threatened to ban social media in Zimbabwe, complaining that it was being abused. Nehanda Radio