Kickoff (Cape Town)
21 December 2008
The cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe is beginning to put pressure on Fifa and the Local Organising Committee of the 2010 World Cup.
The devastating political crisis in Zimbabwe along with the spread of the cholera into South Africa is fuelling pressure groups who are calling for an international boycott of the event if South Africa is unable to unwilling to resolve the current situation.
KickOff.com reported earlier that seven workers in the civics section at the construction site of the new Beitbridge Hotel have contracted the deadly disease.
The area has been one of hardest hit by the deadly cholera outbreak that officially has claimed more than 1000 lives.
The life-threatening water-borne disease eventually hit the labour camp of Costain Zimbabwe, the main contractors on the luxury hotel, and, with seven Fifa has already cast a critical eye on the situation in Zimbabwe, and has discouraged football supporters from setting up base there during the World Cup if the economic and cholera crises persist.
The world governing football body only last week stated categorically that it would not pull the event out of South Africa.
The cholera outbreak is also expected to get worse with the onset of the rainy season and in view of the current situation in Zimbabwe pressure group 'Citizen Alert ZA' as well as 'Petition Online' have decided to unite in calling for a boycott of the World Cup.
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NO MUGABE DROP? NO WORLD CUP!