When the Zimbabwean government ordered internet service providers to shutter parts of the web in an effort to curb anti-government protests, it also plunged homes into darkness because people can\u2019t pay their utilities online.<\/p>\n
Most people in the southern African nation use Econet Wireless Zimbabwe Ltd.\u2019s Ecocash mobile-phone payment system for daily transactions.<\/p>\n
They buy electricity in units of $5 or less and almost all domestic users are on prepaid meters, so many buy for $1 at a time.<\/p>\n
According to Zimbabwe\u2019s Finance Ministry less than 5% of commercial transactions in the country involve cash, mainly because it\u2019s hard to find. Instead Zimbabweans use Ecocash or bank cards.<\/p>\n
“Tonight will be spent in darkness,” said 42-year-old John Pedzesai, who sells plants on a sidewalk in the capital, Harare.<\/p>\n
Econet, Zimbabwe\u2019s biggest mobile-phone company, declined to comment.<\/p>\n
Authorities ordered Internet service providers to restrict access to social media sites including WhatsApp, TechZim reported Tuesday.<\/p>\n