ZIMBABWE’S GOVERNMENT declared a cholera epidemic that has killed more than 560 people a national emergency yesterday, and pleaded for international help to fight the disease.
Admitting for the first time the country’s hospitals were no longer functioning, the government said medical practitioners needed medicines, equipment, water treatment chemicals and money to tackle the epidemic that began last August.
The state-run Herald newspaper yesterday reported the government had declared the cholera outbreak “and the malfunctioning of central hospitals, as national emergencies” on Wednesday, and had appealed for international aid.
“Our central hospitals are literally not functioning,” health minister David Parirenyatwa told a meeting of aid groups, the newspaper reported.
He put the death toll so far at 563, but the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Wednesday 565 deaths and 12,546 infection cases had been recorded.
Until Wednesday, the government had steadfastly refused to tackle the issue of the collapsing health system despite doctors and nurses protesting in recent weeks to highlight the system’s failure.
The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights said the state of emergency declaration by President Robert Mugabe’s regime was long overdue.
“They should have done that two or three weeks ago when the figures of cholera-related deaths were still low. However, it’s better late than never.
“At least they now realise that this is a serious matter,” the association’s chairman Douglas Gwatidzo said.
The cholera outbreak is one of a number of challenges Mr Mugabe’s regime has had to face since the breakdown of a September 15th powersharing deal with the opposition, which was supposed to pave the way for a new unity government.
Frustrated soldiers have also been rioting and looting in the capital Harare over unpaid wages, while water supplies to the city have been sporadic due to a lack of treatment chemicals. Up to half the population are also facing chronic food shortages.
Yesterday the South African government indicated that an urgent ministerial meeting on their neighbour’s food and humanitarian crisis would be held shortly to aid Zimbabweans who might “die of starvation”.
“There are very clear signs . . . people are beginning to die of starvation.
“South Africa and SADC (the Southern African Development Community) can’t just fold our arms,” said government spokesman Themba Maseko.
Meanwhile, regional condemnation of Mr Mugabe’s refusal to relinquish power, despite losing last March’s parliamentary and presidential election, has begun to gather pace.
Yesterday Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga added his voice to that of Botswana’s when he told the BBC that African countries should now come together to force Mr Mugabe, who has ruled since 1980, from office.
“It’s time for African governments to take decisive action to push him out of power,” said Mr Odinga.