Zimbabwe  High Court ruled that the government exceeded its mandate in ordering an internet blackout during civilian protests last week, while the  authorities blamed for the unrest the opposition politicians.

In his interim ruling, High Court Judge Owen Tagu ordered mobile operators to resume full services “immediately and unconditionally“. The biggest, Econet Wireless, compiled with the order late on January 21, it said in a message to its clients.

There was no immediate response from the government legal services on whether they would appeal the court judgment.

Police admitted three people died during the unrest, but lawyers and human rights groups reveal the evidence suggesting at least a dozen victims, while scores were treated for gunshot wounds in hospitals, and hundreds have been held on public order charges.

A several  leaders of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) are in hiding, and accused President Mnangagwa , nicknamed Crocodile, of seeking to “dismantle” the party, the spokesman for the MDC said.