Faatimah Hendricks
11 February 2009
The number of Zimbabweans infected with cholera has risen above 70,000, a new update released by the World Health Organisation has stated.
A staggering 1,950 new cases were reported on Monday, with 67 cholera-related deaths, whereas only 362 were reported the previous day along, with nine deaths.
The humanitarian aid agency, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), reports that 50 to 60 percent of boreholes in rural areas are not functional, forcing residents to use water from streams and lakes.
"People are more and more turning to surface water as their source of water supplies in many districts," says WASH. Many of the boreholes need only minor repairs to get them working again.
The organisation also says there is a possibility that the lack of food is causing cholera infections to increase. "Hunger appears in many areas, and may be contributing to infection."
Rural areas have re-occurring cases of cholera as WASH cannot easily reach citizens in those areas. The group says there is a need to plan for "long-term preventive measures, especially water and sanitation programmes".
Cholera broke out in Zimbabwe in November last year amid political tension between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
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The swearing in ceremony can be viewed from two different angles.
First and the very obvious one is that Tsvangirai ought to have refused to be sworn in at Mugabe's official State House compound in Harare. That place is infested with decisions taken by Mugabe to kill, maim and rape MDC supporters. That is the place where Mugabe decided to order the arrest and torture of Tsvangirai himself. NGOs have called for Mugabe's State House to be classified as "House of terror" in a constant reminder to future generations about the devastating consequences when a criminal leader can cling to power in a "failed" state.
The view from the other angle is that he who Mugabe wanted to assassinate in order to prevent him from snatching power from him entered the heart of power in Zimbabwe from the front door and in presence of the powerless opponent.
I said earlier on that the GNU marks the beginning of the terrible fall from power of the dictator most known after Papa Doc of Haiti.
Mugabe is shameless. He ought to have hidden his face in his own shit rather than witnessing Tsvangirai making inroads into his realm.
Even God has turned against God-annoited Mugabe! HE surely heard the Archbishops plea and HE is now showing Mugabe the exit!
What a dishonourable way to concede that he "failed"! Who can claim that Mugabe behaved like a hero? He indeed behaved like the defeated!
It sure must be a slap in the face for Mugabe to see Tsvangirai appointed Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. All those comments about Tsvangirai being a prostitute etc and he has had to do an about face and let this man walk in the front door of parliament and hand over a considerable amount of power to him. MDC has control of the parliament, and its only a matter of time till elections, and then Mugabe is gone for good. I suspect he will stand down and not face the shame of an embarrasing loss.
Awt_independent,
You just do not know what you are talking about. Tsvangirai clearly read out from that paper that he will be faithful to the President and the country. There are no two ways about that. The problem with you foreigners and CIA agents is that you want to put and keep a wedge between Zimbabweans so that you continue dominating us. You will fail again. We have united as Zimbabweans and there is nothing you can do about that. Tsvangirai will be working for Zimbabweans. President Mugabe, as he has been doing for the past 80 years, is working for the people of Zimbabwe. At the end of the day it is Zimbabwe and its people that are going to benefit from this unity. You can go to hell it you think we should have been killing each other in a civil war so that you could come and once again exploit us and steal our resources. You will fail!!!
Takunya, you are such a bloody liar. After reading your post I decided to view the recorded swearing in again and at NO time does Mr Tsvangirai state he "will be faithful to the President." What Mr Tsvangirai said was " I will be faithful and bear true allegiance TO ZIMBABWE and observe the laws OF ZIMBABWE." He further swore "At all times, when so required, I will freely GIVE MY GOOD COUNCIL AND ADVICE to the president of Zimbabwe for the good management of the affairs of Zimbabwe"... As I have the video, whatever paper you read your lies from just use it to wipe your arse. You Mugabe liars will never stop and will therefore cause your own wedge. Whether you like it or not Mr Tsvangirai has taken the reigns and why? Because Mugabe is incapable and untrustworthy to run your country without supervision because he is such a useless and a thieving bugger.
Kjrs, you seem suprised! Remember this is the same Takunya that also said that the CIA invented AIDS, HIV, syphilis, homosexuality and cholera, and exported them all to Africa. He also said that Mugabe is the most democratic leader in Africa, that there are 200 CIA operatives in Zimbabwe, that I work for the MDC, that I also work for the CIA, and that I also work for the FBI, that Tsvangirai has called for sanctions against Zimbabwe (on BBC Hard Talk 2000 - this is not the case), that Tsvangirai helped draft the US sanctions bill, that the west wants to invade Zimbabwe, that botswana was planning on invading Zimbabwe, that the west wants to poison aid given to Zimbabweans, that Tsvangirai has denied aid to the people of Zimbabwe, that the west has injected AIDS into aid given to Zimbabweans, and that I was part of the killing machinary that massacred his comrades at Chimoio, Nyadzonya, Mkushi..
Why do you so surprised that Takunya is a lie? The question should be does he ever tell the truth! Everything he says has to be backed up for proof!
Kjrs120;
I do not read papers on matters of this nature. I was there when it all happened. I agree, Tsvangi clearly said "I will freely GIVE MY GOOD COUNCIL AND ADVICE to the president of Zimbabwe for the good management of the affairs of Zimbabwe", which means one cannot give advice to a person one is not faithful to and it is as simple as all that.
Mind you the advice is not reciprocal; it is just one way, from the PM to the President. Why? Because the President is the Head of State and Head of Govt, he should get advice from his faithful subordinates who should report to him regularly and on all pertinent issues.
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