Zimbabwe was moving rapidly to join countries such as Somalia to become a "full-blown failed state," former United Nations chief Kofi Annan said in the Netherlands on Tuesday.

Delivering a speech on "fragile states," Annan named Somalia and Afghanistan as examples of such states.

However, he drew a distinction between these two nations and Zimbabwe.

"Somalia and Afghanistan have a long history of deep poverty and strife," he said. "On the other hand, Zimbabwe was once one of the most prosperous in Africa. Due to the abject failure of its leadership, it is now moving rapidly to becoming a full-blown failed state."

He cited as a consequence of the country's plight:

* A country which used to export food to its neighbours can no longer feed its own people. Five million malnourished Zimbabweans urgently needed food aid;

* A cholera epidemic was spreading quickly;

* Three million Zimbabweans were living in South Africa alone; and

* The collapse of a once-vibrant economy was dampening investment throughout Southern Africa.

Annan was speaking at the 25th anniversary of the Netherlands Institute of International Relations (the Clingendael Institute).