Job boycott shuts down much of Zimbabwe as discontent grows

Protestors block a road leading to the city following a job boycott started via social media platforms in Harare, Wednesday, July,6, 2016. A job boycott has shut down most of Zimbabwe as discontent deepens over increasing economic hardships in the southern Africa country. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) (The Associated Press)

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Schoolchildren run past a burning barricade, following a job boycott called via social media platforms, in Harare, Wednesday, July,6, 2016. A job boycott has shut down most of Zimbabwe as discontent deepens over increasing economic hardships in the southern Africa country. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) (The Associated Press)

Police vehicles and water canons parked on the outskirts of the city following a job boycott started via social media platforms, in Harare, Wednesday, July,6, 2016. A job boycott has shut down most of Zimbabwe as discontent deepens over increasing economic hardships in the southern Africa country.(AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) (The Associated Press)

HARARE, Zimbabwe – A job boycott has shut down most of Zimbabwe as discontent deepens over increasing economic hardships in the southern Africa country.

Streets in the capital, Harare, and other cities were deserted Wednesday as workers, including teachers and doctors, heeded the call by activists on social media with the hashtag #?ShutDownZimbabwe2016.

Internet was down for the greater part of the morning.

Police detained several journalists and forced them to delete pictures of skirmishes between police and Harare residents.

Acts of defiance and clashes with the police are rare in Zimbabwe, but protests have surged in recent weeks over growing economic hardship and alleged government mismanagement.

Government workers who are yet to receive their June salaries boycotted work on Tuesday.

Police in Harare on Monday battled rioters protesting alleged police harassment.