About time govt acted on Harare water

FIFTEEN years ago, Zimbabwe experienced one of its worst health disasters since independence in 1980, when a cholera outbreak engulfed the entire country killing 4 369 people and infecting another 98 569. It was such as horrendous experience that a state of emergency was declared and government had to appeal for international assistance to bring it under control as the disease spread across much of southern Africa.

While the outbreak, which began in Chitungwiza, largely emanated from water contaminated with faecal matter, its widespread devastation was attributed to poor access to health care, poor infrastructure, high HIV prevalence, political instability, food shortages, high levels of displaced people and lack of access to safe water.

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