Zimbabwe

Mugabe says cholera over, death toll rises

Article published on the 2008-12-11 Latest update 2008-12-12 13:09 TU

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe in Harare on Thursday
(Photo: Reuters)

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has claimed that there is no more cholera in the country, although a number of aid agencies continue work to deal with the recent outbreak. He brushed aside calls for his resignation and denounced criticism from a number of leaders.

“Because of cholera, Mr Brown, Mr Sarkozy and Mr Bush want military intervention. Now that there is no cholera, there is no need for war,” Mugabe said Thursday.

But the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that 783 people had now died from the disease and more than 16,000 cases had been reported.

South Africa, where ten people have died from cholera has declared a disaster area along its border as hundreds of people flee Zimbabwe to avoid the disease.

Aid agencies have warned that the situation could get worse and the outbreak highlights the collapse of basic services, “It is an infrastructure issue,” says Gregory Hartl from the World Health Organisation.

Meanwhile, the US government announced it would provide more than 4 million euros to help combat the disease, although it reiterated calls for Mugabe to step down.

“Zimbabwe is rapidly deteriorating into failed state status,” said US ambassador to Harare, James McGee.