Zimbabwe’s government has warned its brutal crackdown on protesters is a “foretaste of things to come” as families mourned the deaths of at least a dozen people.

Speaking to the state-controlled Sunday Mail newspaper, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson denied the widely-accepted conclusion that the protests are the result of a dramatic increase in fuel prices.

Instead, George Charamba accused Nelson Chamisa, leader of the country’s main opposition party MDC, of organising the protests and warned of retaliation.

“Government will not stand by while such narrow interests play out so violently. The response so far is just a foretaste of things to come,” Mr Charamba said.

The government’s statement came as many mourned the death of a young footballer who was gunned down by security forces on Tuesday.

Kelvin Tinashe Choto was one of at least a dozen people killed in the past week in the crackdown by security forces.

Soon after the 22-year-old was killed, a photo of his battered body lying on the reception counter of a local police station circulated on social media.

Mr Choto’s killing has become a flashpoint for the protests and crackdown, which has undermined many Zimbabwean’s faith in Mr Mnangagwa’s government.

Mr Chamisa attended the service for Mr Choto and denounced the violence by security forces, arguing the victims of this week’s attacks should be compensated by the government.

“This is a sick government,” he said at the funeral, as he held Mr Choto’s seven-month-old daughter. “Because no serious government will deploy the military and ammunition on ordinary citizens.”

Zimbabwe opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, foreground right, reacts with family members during the funeral of Kelvin Tinashe Choto (AP)

Unlike some people who have been attacked by security forces, Mr Choto was not a political activist. He was the captain of a small football team near Harare and had been planning to travel to South Africa to play for a better-paying team.

“He was our future,” said his father, Julius Choto, at the funeral on Saturday. “He was disciplined, respectable and non-violent. All he cared for was his football.”

Mr Choto says his son had been watching the protests from a football pitch when he was gunned down.

“I have been robbed,” his father said. “He was my only son and his future was bright. I have been robbed by the state.”

Dozens of Zimbabweans have reportedly been shot during the crackdown. Other say they have been hunted down in their homes at night and severely beaten by soldiers and masked men in plain clothes.

In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Show all 55 1 /55 In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election People in Mbare celebrate after officials announced the re-election of President Emmerson Mnangagwa Getty Images In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters celebrate at the Harare International Convention Centre in the early hours Getty Images In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election People in Mbare celebrate Getty Images In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election People in Mbare celebrate Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters sing and dance soon after the announcement EPA In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters sing and dance soon after the results of the Presidential elections were announced at the Harare International Convention Centre EPA In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A vendor sells sponges near newspaper headlines on the streets of Harare AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters of the newly reelected Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa celebrate in Mbare AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election People in Mbare celebrate Getty Images In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A man reads a Zimbabwean newspaper the day after the violence on the streets of Harare EPA In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A soldier fires shots towards demonstrators AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A wounded man reacts at the sight of soldiers while taking shelter in a stall at a market in Harare AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change party (MDC) light a fire in the streets of Harare. Reuters In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Soldiers open fire to disperse crowds of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change supporters outside the party's headquarters in Harare REUTERS In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Opposition MDC party supporters hold a voting placard up high on a street in Harare AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A supporter of Zimbabwean opposition MDC Alliance allegedly beaten up by soldiers sits with blood on his face as other protesters assist him AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A vendor scurries for cover with her wares as soldiers disperse demonstrators AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A wounded man hides under a tarpauling while the Zimbabwean Army patrols the streets of Harare AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Anti-riot police officers close the entrance to the Rainbow Towers, where the election results were announced in Harare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Soldiers open fire on citizens REUTERS In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Citizens run the Zimbabwean army during protests in Harare Reuters In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change party (MDC) protest the result of the election, which they allege to be fraudulent Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters of the opposition protest in the streets of Harare as police fire tear gas AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A soldier assaults a man on the streets of Harare during protests AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Zimbabwean anti riot police officers sit in a truck amidst protesters on the streets of Harare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Citizens run from riot police amidst protests in Harare AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Soldiers patrol the streets during protests in Harare Reuters In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A Zimbabwean soldier beats a man on the streets of Harare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A man lies dead after the Zimbabwean army shot at protesters in Harare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A supporter of the opposition party protests in the streets of Harare Reuters In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Zimbabwean soldiers beats an opposition supporter on the streets of Harare Reuters In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters of the opposition protest in the streets of Harare AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters of the opposition protest in the streets of Harare as police fire tear gas Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters of the opposition burn a campaign banner of the ruling Zanu-PF party Reuters In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A man casts his vote in Mbare, a suburb of Zimbabwean capital Harare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A police officer keeps watch of queuing voters in Mbare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Voters stand in line outside a polling station in Mbare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Election officials remove political posters near a polling station on voting day Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Oppostion leader Nelson Chamisa arrives at a polling station in Harare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Oppostion leader Nelson Chamisa casts his vote AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa arrives to cast his vote in Kwekwe Reuters In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa casts his vote AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Voters stand in line outside a polling station in Kwekwe AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A woman prays outside a polling station in Mbare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Voters arrive at a polling station in Harare EPA In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Former president Robert Mugabe prepares to cast his vote in Harare AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A woman casts her vote in Mbare, a suburb of capital Harare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A woman casts her vote in the township of Makokoba Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A police officer casts his vote in Mbare Getty In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A woman prays near a polling station in Mbare EPA In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A man casts his vote in Harare AP In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Former president Robert Mugabe speaks at a press conference the day before the vote where he stated that he would not be voting for his former Zanu-PF party Reuters In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election A supporter of the opposition MDC party attends the final campaign rally in Harare on July 28 Reuters In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters of the opposition MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) party attends the final campaign rally in Harare on July 28 EPA In pictures: Zimbabwe votes in historic election Supporters of the opposition MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) party attends the final campaign rally in Harare on July 28 EPA

Two men, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, told Associated Press they were brutally beaten by security forces.

"They came at the middle of the night, kicking doors and throwing tear gas to force us out. Once they had rounded up all the men in the area, they assaulted us using motorbike chains," one man said, speaking of security forces going from house to house.

Albert Taurai, who was in hospital with a broken spine, said he was attacked by armed men in plain clothes when he ventured out to look for bread.

He said they struck him and others with iron bars on the back, thighs and ankles “so that we would not be able to run away.”

“I am 46 years old,” Mr Taurai told AP. “I have seen both Mugabe and Mnangagwa. This just is worse than Mugabe."

The reports of attacks came as the government-imposed internet shutdown continued across the country, which critics have called an attempt to cover up abuses.

Dewa Mayhinga, southern Africa director for Human Rights Watch, said the internet shutdown has allowed security forces to commit violence “away from the glare of the international community.”

Mr Charamba said on Saturday night that the shutdown was designed to stop coordinated violence by protesters.