Mugabe: We have solved cholera problem
Zimbabwe’s leader Robert Mugabe dealt with his country’s growing cholera epidemic crisis today by declaring it did not exist.
Last week, Zimbabwe declared a health emergency because of the disease and the collapse of its health services.
But today Mugabe repeated accusations that the West wanted to use the cholera crisis as an excuse to topple the government.
“I am happy we are being assisted by others and we have arrested cholera,” he said.
The death toll from the waterborne disease has risen sharply with the latest UN death toll at 775 with more than 16,000 cases reported.
Cholera has spread rapidly because of the country’s crumbling health care system and lack of clean water.
Aid agencies warn that coming rains could spreading cholera further in a population already weakened by disease and hunger.
With hundreds of people fleeing the country to seek treatment, cholera has already spread to Zimbabwe’s neighbours. Nine deaths were reported in South Africa.
President Mugabe is coming under increasing pressure as concern about the country’s deepening humanitarian and political crisis mounts. President George Bush, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French president Nicolas Sarkozy have all called recently for the 84-year-old leader to step down.
Yesterday, a group of lawyers marched peacefully through the capital Harare calling for the release of human rights activist Jestina Mukoko.
Ms Mukoko, director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, was allegedly taken from her home a week ago when activists held nationwide protests against the country’s deepening economic and health crises.
Zimbabwean security officials regularly detain, harass and beat opponents of Mugabe’s increasingly autocratic rule, although the government denies such allegations.
A judge ordered police to investigate Ms Mukoko’s disappearance.
The lawyers – some dressed in their black gowns – carried placards reading: “Stop abductions now” and calling Ms Mukoko a “woman of peace.”
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change said in a statement that at least 20 activists were missing.
A number of international and regional organisations, including South Africa’s ruling party, also were raising concerns about the whereabouts of the activists.
The African National Congress urged Zimbabwe’s government to find them “as a matter of urgency”.
Irene Khan, secretary-general of Amnesty International said human rights abuses were worsening in Zimbabwe as Mugabe’s regime was “desperate” to stay in power.
In Oslo, Norway, Nobel peace laureate Martti Ahtisaari criticised Mugabe, saying the international community failed to meet its obligation to intervene when “something goes terribly wrong, as it has.”
“(Mugabe) was the hope of the continent after Zimbabwe was born. How this desire for absolute power make somebody behave the way he has done? I feel very sad about that,” he said.
Mugabe, 84, has ruled his country since its 1980 independence from Britain and has refused to leave office following disputed elections in March. A power-sharing deal worked out in September with the opposition has been deadlocked over how to divvy up Cabinet posts.
