• Latest
  • All
  • How To
Zimbabweans are Turning to Telegram After Internet Ban

Zimbabweans are Turning to Telegram After Internet Ban

January 18, 2019
Voter Verification Portal Offline Indefinitely for System Maintenance

IEBC Portal Shutdown for Undisclosed Maintenance Period

July 6, 2025
Infinix Note 50 Pro x Java House Collab

Infinix Teams Up with Java House to Launch Note 50 Pro Series

July 4, 2025
Instagram threads

Instagram Threads Rolls Out Direct Messaging in Major Feature Update

July 4, 2025
Infinix Hot 60i Pre-order

Infinix Hot 60i Now Available for Pre-Order in Kenya

July 4, 2025
DHgate Tablet Cases deals
Windows

Microsoft’s Windows Usage Slumps as Macs, Linux, and Mobile Take Over

July 4, 2025
Microsoft

Microsoft Slashes 9,100 Jobs in Biggest Layoffs Since 2023

July 4, 2025
NASA

NASA Brings Space Missions to Netflix at No Extra Cost

July 3, 2025
ios 26-facetime

iOS 26 May Pause Video if You Start Undressing on FaceTime

July 3, 2025
apple iphone foldable

Apple Begins Testing Its First Foldable iPhone

July 3, 2025
Mobile Data

Kenya Draws More Tourists as Mobile Data Roaming Soars

July 3, 2025
Axian Telecom Considers Full Acquisition of Jumia

Axian Telecom Is Plotting a Full Buyout of Jumia

July 3, 2025
Cable TV

Kenya’s Cable TV Market Rebounds with 31.5% Growth

July 3, 2025
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
No Result
View All Result

Zimbabweans are Turning to Telegram After Internet Ban

Kiruti Itimu by Kiruti Itimu
January 18, 2019
in News
Reading Time: 2 mins read
264
1

Telegram Messenger Leaking Calls
Zimbabwe recently decided to ban Internet access to its citizens and this was confirmed by the owner of the largest telecommunications company in the country. This would mean people cannot access to their favourite social media websites like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp through the normal regular way and would have to use tricks to do that.

If you check on Twitter, you can see that Zimbabweans have employed two tactics to get around the Internet ban problem: Have VPNs and signing up for Telegram Messenger. Downloading and using VPNs has become standard practice for people faced with an Internet ban and they use it to access the banned social media sites.

Interesting enough, it seems that they don’t need a VPN to access Telegram Messenger and this has resulted into Zimbabweans rallying each other to download and install the app.

Telegram people will notice a massive traffic of downloads in Zimbabwe 😂😂

— 𝕄𝕜𝕨𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕒 𝔹𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕣 😎 (@tatendaGTM) January 17, 2019

Just like that, @Telegram is becoming popular in #Zimbabwe because of WhatsApp block. If you haven’t installed install now, #SwitchBackOnZW #ZimabweShutDown

— munotida  (@realmunotida) January 18, 2019

Join Zimleague Zimbabwe on Telegram Group no censorship no net blocking there https://t.co/dju4UDfp7U

#shutdownzimbabwe #shutdownzim #harare #zimbabwe #bulawayo #twimbos #thisflag #ShutDownZim2019 #263chat

— Zimleague🇺🇬🇿🇼@118k (@zimleague) January 17, 2019

Zimbabweans have even gone ahead to form Telegram Supergroups, which can have as many as 10,000 members!

https://twitter.com/techhub263/status/1085898115163586560

Telegram is able to do this because it has a trick up its sleeve: Domain fronting. This trick essentially “hosts a service on another company’s systems and effectively hides the traffic source” as explained by the Wired. They can make the requests look like they came from Google servers for example and if they want to block Telegram, they will have to block google.com. This trick has allowed Telegram to be accessible in its home country, Russia where there has been so many attempts to block it.

This is not the first time we have seen people turn to Telegram when WhatsApp is blocked in their country. In 2015, Telegram gained 1 million users in one day when WhatsApp was banned in Brazil.

Tags: TelegramZimbabwe
SendShare147Tweet92
Kiruti Itimu

Kiruti Itimu

Culture Editor. Covers the intersection of Tech, Social Media and Web Culture. Tech enthusiast [email protected]

Related Posts

SMS

Kenyans Ditch SMS in Favor of WhatsApp and Chat Apps

July 1, 2025
Togo Cracks Down on Social Media as Protests Demand Leader's Resignation

Togo Shuts Down Social Media Access

June 29, 2025
WhatsApp Username

You Will Soon Be Able to Chat on WhatsApp Without Sharing Your Number

June 3, 2025
telegram

Telegram Turns a Huge Profit as Revenue Soars to $1.4 Billion

May 28, 2025
Telegram

Telegram Shuts Down $35 Billion Crypto Black Markets

May 17, 2025
telegram

Telegram Mini-Apps 2.0 and the Path to Super App Glory

November 20, 2024

Latest

Voter Verification Portal Offline Indefinitely for System Maintenance

IEBC Portal Shutdown for Undisclosed Maintenance Period

July 6, 2025
Infinix Note 50 Pro x Java House Collab

Infinix Teams Up with Java House to Launch Note 50 Pro Series

July 4, 2025
Instagram threads

Instagram Threads Rolls Out Direct Messaging in Major Feature Update

July 4, 2025
Infinix Hot 60i Pre-order

Infinix Hot 60i Now Available for Pre-Order in Kenya

July 4, 2025
Windows

Microsoft’s Windows Usage Slumps as Macs, Linux, and Mobile Take Over

July 4, 2025
Microsoft

Microsoft Slashes 9,100 Jobs in Biggest Layoffs Since 2023

July 4, 2025

Best devices

budget smartwatches 2025

Best Budget Smartwatches To Buy in Kenya 2025

February 13, 2025

Best Infinix Smartphones To Buy in Kenya 2024

February 13, 2025

Best Laptops for Battery Life in 2024

August 21, 2024

Best “Battery Warrior” Smartphones To Buy in 2024

August 22, 2024

IEBC Portal Shutdown for Undisclosed Maintenance Period

July 6, 2025

Infinix Teams Up with Java House to Launch Note 50 Pro Series

July 4, 2025

Techweez is a fast growing influential source of technology news, reviews and analysis by leading tech geeks in the industry.

Follow Us

Editorials

Abductions and Arrests! Kenyan Government’s Fear and Hate of X Users Makes No Sense

Actors and Film Crews Are Worried About Veo 3 Taking Their Jobs

Samsung QLED TVs Now Officially Certified for Real Quantum Dot Technology

Trump’s Tariffs Will Be the End of Affordable Tech

5 Ways to Prep Your Tech for Resale

The Weaponization of PDFs: How Cybercriminals Are Exploiting a Trusted Format

More News

NASA Brings Space Missions to Netflix at No Extra Cost

iOS 26 May Pause Video if You Start Undressing on FaceTime

Apple Begins Testing Its First Foldable iPhone

Kenya Draws More Tourists as Mobile Data Roaming Soars

Axian Telecom Is Plotting a Full Buyout of Jumia

Kenya’s Cable TV Market Rebounds with 31.5% Growth

  • Terms Of Use
  • Techweez Brand
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!

Hey there! Just a heads-up: we're big fans of cookies - both the digital and edible kind! 🍪 We use our cookies and some from third parties to ensure your browsing experience on our site is smooth sailing and secure.

 

But wait, there's more! We also use cookies to gather stats and insights on how you navigate our site. It's like getting a behind-the-scenes peek at your digital adventures!

 

Don't worry, you're in control. You can adjust your cookie settings anytime to suit your preferences. Feeling curious? Dive into our Privacy Policy for all the juicy details. Happy browsing! 🚀

Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
  • Automotive
  • Entertainment

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.