Street clashes in Zimbabwe have turned deadly, with security forces confronting protesters who are railing against a hike in fuel prices during the country's worst economic crisis in a decade.

Key points: Several killed, 200 arrested in protests over fuel hike

Several killed, 200 arrested in protests over fuel hike Witnesses reported security forces firing tear gas at mounting crowds

Witnesses reported security forces firing tear gas at mounting crowds Locals have reported widespread internet shutdowns, with social media platforms blocked

Several people have been killed and at least 200 arrested in the midst of a nationwide strike.

The violence comes amid ongoing economic turmoil, with chronic unemployment and an acute shortage of hard currency in the country.

The strikes and protests were called after the Government increased the price of petrol by 150 per cent, without any warning, in a bid to ease fuel shortages.

Zimbabwe is now the most expensive place in the world to buy petrol, with a litre costing $4.60.

A woman with an injured leg had to be carried by wheelbarrow during the clashes. ( AP: Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi )

The average wage in Zimbabwe is about $320 a month, but the unemployment rate is 90 per cent, with most people working in the informal economy.

The Government offered public servants a wage increase after the protests turned deadly.

It has promised public workers a supplement of between 5 and 23 per cent of their salaries for the next three months.

Social media disabled amid looting and riots

Several people died and hundreds were arrested after security forces fired bullets into crowds of protesters. ( AP: Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi )

People burned tyres and barricaded roads as the protests swelled, and most shops and schools in the main cities of Harare and Bulawayo were shut down.

There were eyewitness reports and videos of looting and of riot police using tear gas to disperse crowds.

The headquarters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party was set alight by arsonists amid the chaos.

Locals have reported widespread internet shutdowns and social media platforms have been blocked in parts of the country.

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The ruling Zanu-PF Party, led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has been unable to reverse the country's economic collapse since it won elections in August last year.

The polls were controversial, with widespread accusations of vote-rigging.

The latest violence echoes post-election clashes in August, which saw six people killed when troops opened fire on protesters in Harare.

Mr Mnangagwa is currently en route to the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa was in Russia when the protests broke out, and has been called upon to return. ( AP: Jerome Delay, file photo )

During an official visit to Moscow, he announced that Zimbabwe would be interested in receiving Russian loans.

The extreme devaluation of the Zimbabwean official currency, known as bollars, means the country is exporting virtually nothing while racking up debts on imports.

Some Zimbabweans called on Mr Mnangagwa to return to the country to deal with the crisis.

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ABC/Reuters