Zimbabwe

Government says cholera 'under control' while UN says thousands could contact the disease

Article published on the 2008-12-09 Latest update 2008-12-09 17:48 TU

Cholera victim Betty Mubata is buried at Chitungwiza Unit L cemetery, Zimbabwe
(Credit: Reuters)

Zimbabwe's Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu told reporters on Tuesday that the cholera epidemic is "under control", despite the warning from the World Health Organization that 60,000 people could become infected. The cholera epidemic has already claimed 600 lives with over 12,000 more cases detected across the country. Doctors say the epidemic in spreading into neighbouring countries.

A South African delegation arrived in Harare on Monday to assess the scale of the disaster. 

"You can't tell people to play their part in mitigating the cholera crisis when you are still seeing raw sewage flowing all over the suburbs, in front of people's homes," Dumisani Ndlela, a Zimbabwean journalist in Harare told RFI.

"They have tried to underplay the situation, but you just can't cover it up any longer... consider that this is just within the space of a month," said Ndlela. "I can imagine what it is going to be like as we go forth," he added.