Having family in Zimbabwe meant that our conversations over Christmas included Mugabe and Cholera alongside Mandelson and 'flu. Although the numbers are provisional, it is thought that over 1600 people have already died from this ruthless diarrhoea causing bacterium vibrio cholerae with over 30,000 people effected. Areas with the worst sanitation and least health resources are worst hit and the numbers are still rising with nearly 1000 new cases reported on New Year's day.
Cholera is no stranger to Zimbabwe where there have been annual outbreaks for decades. However the current epidemic is far worse than the last in 1992. There is little surprise in this as the country's infrastructure, including the crucial water supply and sanitation, has crumbled since then as many provincial Councils have been undermined by Mugabe's henchmen. The internal chaos and lack of professionals also precludes even considering the distribution of the oral vaccine to prevent the infection.
My relations say hope is in short supply, but there are two things we can do. Firstly ensure we keep Zimbabwe in the media spotlight. Cholera, refugees and other fall-out should mean that Zimbabwe's future is a key issue in the April elections in neighbouring South Africa. Likewise support for the countries who have already spoken out against Mugabe - Zambia, Botswana and Tanzania - should be publicised. Secondly we can all support the charities working to fight the cholera outbreak and famine [Red Cross, Unicef, Zane]. When a fiver feeds a child for a month in Africa, how can we ignore such value for money and redeeming return on our Pounds in these thrifty times?
