Highly placed sources within ZANU PF have indicated that after Wednesday’s highly emotive ZANU PF Politburo meeting, President Emmerson Mnangagwa ordered State Security Minister Owen Ncube to push for internet suspension in the country ahead of the July 31 anti goverment protests.

This will be the second time that goverment will be shutting down the internet as citizens protest against poor governance in the country.

The move will be executed against a January 2019 court directive that goverment can not shut down the internet as it is against the country’s constitution.

In 2019, High Court Judge Owen Tagu ruled that the Zimbabwe’s government exceeded its mandate in ordering an internet blackout during civilian protests .

In his interim ruling, Justice Tagu told mobile operators to immediately and unconditionally resume full services.

The sporadic blackouts began following the protests against a rise in fuel prices that turned violent.

Exiled former ZANU PF bigwig Professor Jonathan Moyo has also since confirmed the purported move by goverment.

Moyo Twitted:

Mnangagwa, Owen Mudha Ncube and Isaac Moyo have resolved to shutdown the Internet and WhatsApp services ahead of #31July2020. There's panic across the system, after it became clear that ZanuPF & government players are supporting the demonstration!#ZanupfMustGo #31JulyMovement

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) July 29, 2020