Cholera-hit Zambia rues neighboring countries' restrictions

LUSAKA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government said on Thursday that it was not necessary for some neighboring countries to restrict travels by Zambians and halt food imports due to a cholera outbreak.

According to reports, the Namibian government has resolved to provisionally ban importation of all perishable food, fruits, unprocessed food and water from Zamia following a cholera outbreak.

Other neighboring countries such as Tanzania and Malawi are reported to have imposed measures to restrict entries by Zambians.

Minister of Local Government Vincent Mwale said such measures were not necessary as the cholera situation was not out of control and as the government has put in place stringent measures to curtail further spread.

"Why should they do this now when they never imposed restrictions when we have higher cholera cases in the past," he said in a live interview on HOT FM radio.

He also said there were many parts of the country that have not recorded any cases.

Zambia has recorded a cholera outbreak especially in Lusaka, the country's capital, since October last year with over 2,800 cases so far. Enditem