Zimbabwe reports 124 cholera cases in new outbreak

By Agencies

HARARE: Zimbabwe has confirmed 124 cases of cholera since the onset of a new outbreak last November, Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora announced on Friday.

During a press conference in the capital city of Harare, Mombeshora reported that the nation has recorded 15 confirmed deaths, along with 608 suspected cases and 566 recoveries.

Six out of ten provinces have been affected, with the majority of recent cases emerging in the Central Mashonaland province, according to the minister.

Mombeshora highlighted that most cases have been identified among artisanal miners along the Mazowe River and in the small agricultural town of Glendale within Central Mashonaland.

“Artisanal miners often move from one location to another, inadvertently spreading cholera as they do so. Consequently, we have observed a persistent trend of cases originating from Central Mashonaland, particularly along the Mazowe River, where significant gold panning occurs,” he explained.

“We are actively seeking additional vaccines, as our current supply has been depleted. We only have 4,000 doses available, which is inadequate for addressing the needs of the affected areas,” the minister added.

Mombeshora further revealed that recurring cholera outbreaks continue to plague Zimbabwe, primarily due to a lack of sustainable water and sanitation infrastructure.