The Zimbabwean government says the security forces’ response to recent protests in which a number of people have reportedly died is just “a foretaste of things to come”.

News of a violent crackdown has emerged despite the government blocking social media sites.

Local rights groups said at least 12 people had been killed and many more beaten by security forces.

The protests were sparked on Monday by a sharp rise in the price of fuel.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Sunday he was cutting short his current foreign tour to return home “in the light of the economic situation”.