Zimbabwe

Air force commander shot, UN condemns cholera epidemic

Article published on the 2008-12-16 Latest update 2008-12-16 17:53 TU

A cholera patient in a clinic in Harare
(Photo: Reuters)

The Commander of Zimbabwe’s Air Force, Perence Shiri, survived an assassination attempt Saturday, reported state media, an incident that the government says is part of a terror campaign against high-profile officials. Zimbabwe also claims to have evidence showing Botswana is providing support to opponents seeking to topple President Robert Mugabe.

“The attack on Air Marshal Shiri appears to be a build-up of terror attacks targeting high-profile persons, government officials, government establishments and public transportation systems,” said Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi.

Shiri was shot in the arm by an unidentified gunman as he drove to his farm in northeastern Zimbabwe.

Authorities have blamed neighbouring Botswana of giving material support to Zimbabwean "bandits" following bomb explosions at police stations in the capital in recent weeks.

Zimbabwe’s Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said authorities had “compelling evidence” that Botswana was supporting a plot to unseat Mugabe by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) of Morgan Tsvangirai.

“The Troika is now in charge of the matter and we all await their next move,” he continued, referring to a submission Zimbabwe made to the security troika of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) last week.

Botswana, which has been critical of Mugabe, denies the accusations, a Foreign Ministry statement saying the submission to the troika “contains nothing more than distorted and or concocted evidence, none of which is supported by facts.”

Meanwhile at the United Nations Security Council meeting in New York, South Africa is blocking a non-binding statement condemning Mugabe for his failure to protect people from cholera, according to diplomats.

“The current cholera epidemic is only the most visible manifestation of a profound multi-sectoral crisis, encompassing food, agriculture, education, health, water, sanitation and HIV/Aids,” said Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, addressing the meeting.

The high-level meeting was attended by UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

"In their view it was a way to show to the Mugabe regime that they are still watching, even though they have not been able to get anything in the Security Council right now. They have not abandoned the idea and they want to keep the presure on," said correspondent Philippe Bolopion at the UN.

Inflation is over 230 million per cent in Zimbabwe, and according new UN figures, 18,413 people have been affected by cholera, and 978 have died.