Mugabe fears another cholera outbreak

President Robert Mugabe says he fears another cholera outbreak and government has set up a committee to deal with the water crisis in cities to avert loss of lives.

Mugabe told a capacity crowd at the National Sports Stadium last Friday during Independence Day celebrations that government had roped in development partners to help address the situation.

"In collaboration with its development partners, government is working towards the improvement also of water supply and the disposal of waste water in our cities and towns," Mugabe said.

"Nyaya yemvura tanzwa nayo nenyaya yetsvina mumadhorobha. Nyaya iyoyo irikurwadza hurumende (Udaba lwamanzi sesizwile ngalo lodaba lwengcekeza emadolobheni. Udaba lolu luhlukumeza uhulumende) and we have discussed it and action is being taken. A committee has been set up to look at cities' water and sewage excreta as an act of emergency.

"These are very urgent issues that must be managed quickly because any delay in managing them would result in some of our people being affected by diseases and some deaths naturally will result from that."

Zimbabwe experienced the worst cholera outbreak between August 2008 and June 2009, with over 100 000 reported cases and 4 287 deaths recorded with an average fatality rate of 4,3 percent.

Mugabe said government had managed to raise $43, 6 million under the urgent water supply and sanitation project (Zimfund) to improve water supply and sanitation in Harare, Chitungwiza, Mutare, Masvingo, Kwekwe and Chegutu.

He also said the second phase of the project, which was launched in March, would help Ruwa and Redcliff.

"In addition, 14 small towns' water supplies and waste water treatment plants are also being rehabilitated," Mugabe said.

"Some 10 000 existing boreholes are being rehabilitated, 1 500 new boreholes drilled, 1000 toilets and 30 piped water schemes constructed."