Harare Declares Emergency Amid Deadly Cholera Outbreak
City officials say the outbreak evokes memories of past epidemics in 2008 and 2018 when thousands perished.
HARARE, Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe has declared a state of emergency due to a cholera outbreak that has killed 50 people and sickened over 7,000, many in the capital of Harare, writes Naome Chisala.
City officials say the outbreak evokes memories of past epidemics in 2008 and 2018 when thousands perished.
"This outbreak is spreading rapidly, and we are seeing a high number of admissions, which is putting pressure on our health facilities," said Dr. Norman Matara, Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights.
The International Federation of Red Cross says health authorities are overwhelmed by admissions.
“The outbreak has stretched an already struggling health system,” said Jamie LeSueur, IFRC’s head of disaster response operations in Africa.
The current outbreak could exceed previous figures, officials warn. Initially concentrated in rural areas, cholera has spread to most of Harare, especially the suburb of Kuwadzana, which accounts for 90% of cases.
To contain the outbreak, the government and Harare city council have banned street food vending and cooking while collaborating with aid agencies to provide clean water and medicine to impacted communities. Authorities have deployed water tanks for safer water access and are distributing water purification tablets. Long term, the government aims to construct a new dam to improve Harare's water supply.
However, uncollected garbage and burst sewage pipes fueling the outbreak remain unaddressed, residents say. Without fixing poor infrastructure, they say the outbreak will persist.
Tonderai Shumba, a Glen View resident, describes raw sewage flooding the streets from ageing pipes.
“The sewage system is old and constantly overflowing. The city council does not seem to care,” said Shumba. With rationed water, Shumba says children play unsupervised in dirty water and fall ill.
Compounding matters, an exodus of medical staff, especially nurses, has depleted Zimbabwe's health sector.
Frustrated residents contemplated demonstrating against city authorities but cancelled plans when the mayor and health officials toured affected areas to speak with cholera victims.
“We need urgent action before more lives are lost,” said Harare Mayor Ian Makone.