Zimbabwe’s Econet says received government order to open up Internet access

A Zimbabwean man speaks on his phone outside a branch of mobile service provider Econet Wireless in central Harare, June 6, 2014. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo/File Photo

Zimbabwe’s biggest mobile operator Econet Wireless said on Friday that it had received an instruction from the government to open up Internet access, except for some social media applications.

Earlier on Friday, Zimbabwe was under an internet blackout after authorities extended a communications ban to cover emails, while the United Nations urged an end to a security crackdown on civilians triggered by days of deadly protests.