Zimbabwe finally declares national emergency in wake of cholera crisis
On Thursday the Zimbabwean government finally acknowledged the seriousness of the cholera epidemic that has been ravaging the country since early October by declaring a national emergency. The health department has asked for R40m to buy water treatment chemicals. Officially the disease has claimed 565 lives in Zimbabwe, but some NGOs claim the figure is almost double, with thousands more infected.
Water restored to most of Harare, demonstrations quashed
Water had been restored to most parts of Harare by Wednesday after two days without due to a lack of treatment chemicals. However, many of the poorest parts of the city and the rest of the country remain without proper access to clean water and have been for some time. On Wednesday healthcare workers joined union representatives by taking to the streets of the capital to protest the against the lack of money to pay them as well as the lack of food, medicine, drinking water, clean bedding and other resources for treating patients. The demonstration was violently quashed by police and at least 70 people were arrested. The protests came a day after some members of the army went on a rampage attacking money traders after they were unable to draw their salaries due to cash shortages.
Myth buster
The Botswana Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied reports that the country will be closing its diplomatic mission in Zimbabwe. Newspaper reports in Zimbabwe claimed that the mission would be closed by Christmas and that the embassy had started auctioning off its furniture. Meanwhile the Botswana government has pledged 370 000 dollars to aid Zimbabwe in its current crisis. The funds are to be distributed through NGOs.
