Zimbabwe issues cholera, typhoid alert as water shortages persist

The Zimbabwean government has issued a cholera and typhoid alert following serious water shortages that have hit Harare and other cities as a result of the 2015/16 El Nino induced drought.

Health and Child Care Minister David Parirenyatwa told state-controlled newspaper The Herald on Saturday that the water shortage throughout the country has become an emergency since it impacted on sanitation.

Many people are now resorting to "bush toilets" because they cannot afford to use toilets which can flush.

Harare, for instance, recently introduced stringent water rationing that leaves some residential areas without tap water for five days in a week.

"The impact may not be serious now, but when it rains and there are flash floods, all this dirt will be washed away into shallow and unprotected water sources. This is when you see an increase in water-borne diseases such as typhoid, cholera and diarrhea," he said.

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate is also seeking Cabinet approval to declare the country a water shortage area because of the drought.

Zimbabwe bears the scars of a severe cholera outbreak in 2008/9 which left more than 4,000 people dead. Endit