| Minister of Health asks for Cholera help |
| 04 Dec 2008 |
| Zimbabwe's government has asked for urgent international help to tackle its cholera outbreak, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported.
At a meeting with aid agencies, Health Minister David Parirenyatwa is reported to have asked for medicine, equipment and funds to pay medical staff.
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| WHO - advice on cholera outbreak |
| 03 Dec 2008 |
| As of 1 December 2008, the Ministry of Health in Zimbabwe has reported a total of 11 735 cholera cases with 484 deaths since August 2008, affecting all provinces in the country. The overall case fatality rate is 4% but has reached up to 20–30% in remote areas. Out of the total number of cases, 50% have been reported from Budiriro, a high density suburb of the capital city, Harare. Beitbridge, a town bordering South Africa, has reported 26% of all cases. In the last two days, two additional areas have been affected: Chegutu (in Mashonaland West province) and Mvuma (in Midlands province). Reports have also been received from the Ministries of Health in neighbouring countries confirming cholera cases have occurred in Musina (South Africa), Palm Tree (Botswana) and Guro district (Mozambique).
Cholera outbreaks have become more frequent in Zimbabwe since the early 1990s. However, with the exception of the large outbreaks that occurred in 1999 and 2002, the disease has been kept under control through intensified prevention and preparedness activities.
Cholera is mainly transmitted through contaminated water and food and is closely linked to inadequate environmental management. Recent interruptions to the water supplies, together with overcrowding, are aggravating factors in this epidemic. ZINWA (Zimbabwe National Water Authority) has pledged to correct the water supply and sewage system as a matter of urgency.
The Ministry of Health and WHO, together with its health sector partners (UNICEF, IOM, OXFAM-GB, Medecins du Monde, ICRC, ACF, MSF‐Spain - Holland & Luxemburg, Plan International, GOAL, Save the Children-UK and others), have established a comprehensive and coordinated cholera response operational plan to address the needs of the population in the affected areas, emphasizing a multi-sectoral response. WHO is procuring emergency stocks of supplies to meet identified gaps and is deploying a full outbreak investigation and response team, including epidemiologists, water and sanitation engineers and social mobilization specialists. In addition, an epidemiologist and three data managers from the WHO Inter-country Support Team in Harare are assisting the WHO Country Office in data monitoring, analysis and mapping.
Communities are being encouraged to protect themselves against cholera by adhering to proper food safety practices as well as to good personal hygiene. Early rehydration at home by using oral rehydration salts is paramount to diminishing mortality.
Mass chemoprophylaxis with antibiotics is strongly discouraged, as it has no effect on the spread of cholera, can have adverse effects by increasing antimicrobial resistance and provides a false sense of security.
Once an outbreak has started, WHO does not recommend the use of the current internationally available WHO prequalified oral cholera vaccine. This is due to its 2-dose regimen, the time required to reach protective efficacy and the high cost and heavy logistics associated with its use.
The use of the parenteral cholera vaccine has never been recommended by WHO due to its low protective efficacy and the occurrence of severe adverse events.
In controlling the spread of cholera, WHO does not recommend any special restrictions to travel or trade to or from affected areas. However, neighbouring countries are encouraged to strengthen their active surveillance and preparedness systems.
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| Zimbabwe cholera march broken up |
| 03 Dec 2008 |
| Police in Zimbabwe have broken up a march by nurses and doctors in the capital, Harare, angered at the worsening cholera outbreak.
Witnesses say officers used batons to disperse and beat up the small band of about 20 health workers.
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| U.N report that cholera deaths near 500 |
| 03 Dec 2008 |
| A cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe has killed at least 484 people since August, according to the UN.
More than 11,700 cases of cholera have been recorded over the same period, an update from the UN office for humanitarian affairs said. The cholera outbreak has affected most of Zimbabwe's regions. Its spread has been aided by the collapse of Zimbabwe's health and sanitation systems amid a prolonged economic and political crisis.
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| Anti-riot police officers clash with unarmed soldiers in Harare |
| 02 Dec 2008 |
| Anti-riot police officers clashed with unarmed soldiers in Harare on 1 December 2008. The violence began when the soldiers attacked money changers and stole cash after being unable to withdraw their wages at banks. Local civilians responded to the violence by throwing rocks at the soldiers and chasing them in the streets. Anti-riot police officers armed with batons, guns and tear gas were deployed to the scene to calm the riot. At least one civilian was injured by a stray bullet. Most shops in the area closed down as a result of the clash, which also included widespread looting. The incident is the second time in the past week that Zimbabwe's soldiers attacked money changers in the capital due to frustration over unpaid wages.
Additional protests over the country's economic malaise are expected in the capital in the coming days. The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has called on Zimbabweans to take part in a mass protest on 3 December to demand that banks allow them to withdraw all of their money. The ZCTU is also planning a march to the reserve bank.
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| Water supplies to Harare cut off to control Cholera outbreak |
| 02 Dec 2008 |
| According to reports on 1 December 2008, water supplies to Harare have been cut in an attempt to control the country's cholera outbreak. The water supply was apparently cut because of a shortage of purification chemicals, which are supposed to be imported from South Africa. Several Harare residents have begun digging wells in their yards to access water, while long lines have formed in parts of the city to buy water from vendors. Many of the city's businesses have been forced to close as a result. At least 425 people have died from cholera in recent months, while more than 11,000 people have been infected with the disease. The disease is treatable, but the country's hyperinflation -- which currently stands at 231 million percent -- has prevented the acquisition of sufficient medicines.
Meanwhile, an anthrax outbreak has hit northern Zimbabwe, killing three people and threatening to wipe out the area's 60,000 heads of livestock. A local organization reported that widespread food shortages have forced people to eat meat from animals even when they know that the animal was infected with anthrax. Authorities have imposed a quarantine to prevent the disease from spreading. Anthrax is a highly infectious disease that typically only infects livestock but can be transmitted to humans by handling or ingesting infected animals.
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| Police officers prevent doctors and nurses at Zimbabwe's Parirenyatwa Hospital from protesting |
| 19 Nov 2008 |
| Anti-riot police officers prevented doctors and nurses at Zimbabwe's Parirenyatwa Hospital from protesting the country's poor health system on 18 November 2008. Approximately 700 health care workers attempted to march outside the hospital over the lack of medical supplies, equipment and drugs and to demand higher salaries. Reports indicate that the anti-riot police officers assaulted the protesters with batons, but there were no casualties or arrests. The protest comes as an ongoing cholera outbreak in the country has killed at least 130 people in recent months. Zimbabwe once had the best health care system in Africa, but it has recently collapsed due to the country's hyperinflation rate and political crisis.
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| Students and pro-democracy activists demanding the creation of a caretaker government |
| 12 Nov 2008 |
| Zimbabwean students and pro-democracy activists marched in Harare on 11 November 2008, demanding the creation of a caretaker government to address the country's economic and humanitarian concerns. Anti-riot police officers used batons to break up the protesters and even attacked some passersby. The demonstration came two days after a Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit was unable to break the impasse over the allocation of key ministries in the new government. President Robert Mugabe and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) signed a power sharing agreement in early September 2008, but ministry talks have been deadlocked for more than eight weeks.
Meanwhile, human rights observers stated that politically motivated violence is increasing in Zimbabwe. Authorities reported approximately 1,300 cases of political violence in September 2008, which was a 39 percent increase from the previous month. The cases ranged from property destruction to rapes and killings. Politically motivated violence was commonplace during the run up to the 27 June presidential election run off, but had since subsided after Mugabe and the MDC signed a power sharing agreement.
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| Opposition accuse president of violent tactics |
| 07 Nov 2008 |
| On 6 November 2008 the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) accused President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF of resuming the violent tactics that characterized the run-up to the June 2008 presidential election run off. The MDC claims that a ruling party militia attacked at least 25 MDC supporters in a Harare township on 27 October. Then on 30 October, security agents allegedly raided the home of a local MDC leader in Banket and arrested nine people, including a 2-year-old child. Human rights groups operating in Zimbabwe have confirmed the renewed intimidation from security forces. Kidnappings, killings and indiscriminate violence were commonplace after the March 2008 presidential election, but subsided after Mugabe and the MDC signed a power sharing agreement in September 2008. At least 180 MDC supporters were killed between March and June 2008 and an additional 9,000 were injured. The parties are currently deadlocked in negotiations over the allocation of key ministries in the new government. A Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit will be held in South Africa on 9 November to attempt to break the impasse.
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| Anti-riot police officers clash with student demonstrators |
| 15 Oct 2008 |
| Anti-riot police officers clashed with student demonstrators on 14 October 2008 in Harare. Members of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) were attempting to deliver a memorandum to Parliament protesting the failure of most universities to open in time for the start of the academic year when the violence broke out. Security forces ordered the 200 ZINASU demonstrators to pick two representatives to deliver the memorandum. However, observers stated that the two were immediately arrested when they stepped forward to deliver the document. Anti-riot police officers then reportedly charged students, wielding batons and guns. At least four students were injured and three students were arrested. The incident was the first instance of heavy-handed tactics by Zimbabwe's security forces since President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) signed a power sharing deal on 15 September. Some observers fear that the incident is evidence that Mugabe has already ordered a resumption of violence after he unilaterally took control of the country's key ministries, including Home Affairs, which is in charge of Zimbabwe's police forces.
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| Mugabe appoints three members of his ZANU-PF political party to key positions in government ministries |
| 13 Oct 2008 |
| Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe announced on 11 October 2008 that he has appointed three members of his ZANU-PF political party to key positions in government ministries. Reports indicate that ZANU-PF members will head the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Finance. Opposition leaders at the rival Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) immediately condemned the appointments as a violation of a power sharing deal that the two parties signed on 15 September. MDC presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai agreed to serve as prime minister and allow Mugabe to retain the presidency in return for the assurance that MDC party members would be given key ministry positions. Appointing fellow party members to lead the three most important government ministries will allow Mugabe to strengthen his political position. MDC appointees already head the ministries of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs, Public Service and Health.
Meanwhile, on 13 October Mugabe also swore in two vice presidential candidates. The move comes before talks between the two parties on the composition of a new Cabinet. The 15 September power sharing agreement permitted Mugabe to choose his own vice presidents, but the decision to swear them in without consulting the MDC has threatened the deal. This second unilateral move prompted former South African President Thabo Mbeki, who mediated the power-sharing negotiations, to travel to Harare on 13 October to attempt to resolve the impasse. If the parties cannot reach an agreement, Tsvangirai has threatened to pull out of negotiations.
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| Negotiators walked out of a meeting with President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party |
| 08 Oct 2008 |
| Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) negotiators walked out of a meeting with President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party on 7 October 2008 after the two parties were unable to reach an agreement on the allocation of ministries. Although the ZANU-PF has reported that only two ministries -- home affairs and finance -- are still under discussion, the MDC claims that the assignment of all 31 ministries has yet to be decided upon. The MDC has stated that it will now wait for an international mediator to break the impasse, and former South African President Thabo Mbeki -- who mediated the initial power sharing agreement -- is expected to arrive in Harare in the coming days; the ZANU-PF, however, has insisted that international mediation is not needed. If the parties cannot reach a deal, the power sharing agreement will likely collapse; both MDC and ZANU-PF representatives have indicated that they would rather see the talks collapse than concede key ministries to the other party. The power sharing agreement was signed on 15 September after more than eight weeks of negotiations following the 27 June presidential election run-off, which took place in an environment of extreme violence and intimidation; the international community labeled the election a "sham."
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| Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe have reached a deal to share power. |
| 12 Sep 2008 |
| After mediating four days of talks in Harare, South African President Thabo Mbeki said the agreement would be signed and made public on Monday.
Mr Tsvangirai has confirmed the deal, but Mr Mugabe has yet to comment.
The government and the opposition MDC had already agreed that Mr Tsvangirai would be prime minister with Mr Mugabe staying on as president.
Negotiations started at the end of July, but had stalled over the allocation of executive power between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, bitter rivals for a decade.
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| Mugabe lifts ban |
| 30 Aug 2008 |
| Zimbabwe state radio reported on 29 August 2008 that President Robert Mugabe has lifted the ban on non-governmental organization (NGO) activity in Zimbabwe. All humanitarian and food assistance organizations can now immediately restart operations. The ban, which has been in place since 2 June, has affected at least 1.5 million people, and humanitarian organizations had warned that approximately 5 million Zimbabweans would have been without food by the end of 2008 if the ban remained in place. |
| Mugabe threatens to form a new government without the participation of the opposition |
| 28 Aug 2008 |
| Reports on 27 August 2008 stated that President Robert Mugabe has threatened to form a new government without the participation of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Mugabe stated that the MDC apparently "does not want to come in" to an agreement with the ruling party, as talks between the two rival political parties toward the formation of a power sharing government have stalled indefinitely. Although MDC officials have reiterated their commitment to the negotiations, no recent progress has been made, and optimism that an agreement will be reached has waned. |
| Harare police station bombed |
| 04 Aug 2008 |
| Police cordoned off the main police station in central Harare after an explosion shook the building at approximately 1845 local time (1645 UTC) on 2 August 2008. A bomb squad investigating the explosion -- which struck the criminal investigations department section of the building -- discovered one detonated explosive device and two live ones following the incident. The bomb shattered windows and damaged 13 offices and a kitchen where the device had been planted. Officials have stated that no one was injured. The bombing came ahead of talks between opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and President Mugabe's party on 3 August; however, it is not known if the two events are connected; the talks resumed as scheduled and thus far there has been no indication of who is to blame for the bombing.
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| New currency to be introduced |
| 30 Jul 2008 |
| Zimbabwe's Central Bank announced on 30 July 2008 that it will introduce a new currency on 1 August in an effort to battle the country's hyperinflation and cash shortage. The Zimbabwe dollar will be redenominated by a factor of one to 10, meaning that 10 zeros will be removed; 10 billion dollars will thus equal Z$1 on 1 August. The bank also announced that it will raise the daily amount that Zimbabweans can withdraw from their bank accounts; the previous limit was Z$100 billion, which was not enough to buy a loaf of bread. The high number of zeros in the old currency caused a massive cash shortage as the bank's computer system and automatic teller machines were unable to handle transactions in the billions and trillions. President Robert Mugabe also warned businesses that he would immediately institute a state of emergency if they attempt to profiteer.
Zimbabwe's inflation rate officially stands at 2.2 million percent, but unofficial estimates have placed the figure much higher, at approximately 12.5 million percent. Inflation has forced the central bank to issue Z$100 million, Z$250 million, Z$500 million and Z$100 billion notes this year alone.
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| Officials say sanctions will cause civil war |
| 11 Jul 2008 |
| Zimbabwean government officials warned the international community on 11 July 2008 that the type of sanctions currently being discussed in the U.N. Security Council may push Zimbabwe into a civil war. The announcement stated that the sanctions would "remove Zimbabwe's effective government and, most probably, start a civil war." The warning follows past statements by President Robert Mugabe and his aides demanding that the West stop meddling in Zimbabwe's internal affairs. The U.N. Security Council was scheduled to vote on a draft sanctions resolution -- which would include a travel ban and asset freeze against Mugabe and 13 of his top aides and an arms embargo against the regime -- on 10 July, but no information has been released on the progress of discussions or the likely outcome of the vote.
Meanwhile, a joint Human Sciences Research Council and Africa Policy Institute study states that not only are Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters increasingly retaliating against Mugabe's militias, but that their attacks were becoming more organized, lending credence to a possible civil war. Despite the MDC's stated commitment to eventual negotiations to solve the political crisis in Zimbabwe, the study reports that Mugabe's relentless campaign of violence against the MDC has forced the opposition supporters to retaliate in a more "programmatic and structured" way.
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| UN Security Council set to vote on sanctions |
| 10 Jul 2008 |
| The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to vote on a targeted sanctions resolution against Zimbabwe on 10 July 2008. The proposed sanctions include a travel ban and asset freeze on President Robert Mugabe and 13 of his top aides and an arms embargo on the regime, which many in the international community consider illegitimate after Mugabe won the one-candidate run off election on 27 June amid an environment of intimidation and violence. U.S. representatives believe the resolution will garner the necessary votes to pass, despite objections voiced by Russia and China, two permanent members of the Security Council who hold veto power.
In past statements, Mugabe has accused the draft resolution of being "racist" and has warned the international community to stop "meddling" in Zimbabwe's internal affairs. Mugabe and the African Union instead have taken steps to pursue a negotiated settlement to the political crisis. However, despite government press releases to the contrary, so far the opposition Movement for Democratic Change has rejected negotiations under the current conditions.
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| Union to blockade the South Africa-Zimbabwe Beitbridge border post on 8 July |
| 03 Jul 2008 |
| South Africa's main labour union -- the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) -- announced on 2 July 2008 that it will blockade the South Africa-Zimbabwe Beitbridge border post on 8 July in protest over President Robert Mugabe's rule. COSATU stated that the demonstration and blockade will be the first action in a campaign aimed at mobilizing unions and workers around the world to refuse service to Mugabe. In April COSATU also mobilized workers to deny a delivery of Chinese-supplied weapons to Zimbabwe; the Chinese government recalled the shipment after COSATU's actions convinced several African governments to refuse to allow the ship carrying the weapons to dock at their ports.
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| Officials declare Mugabe the winner of the presidential runoff |
| 30 Jun 2008 |
| On 29 June 2008 election officials in Zimbabwe declared Robert Mugabe the winner of the presidential runoff. Authorities stated that with all the ballots tallied Mugabe secured approximately 85 percent of the national vote. Foreign observers claimed that voters faced an environment of fear at polling stations and many Zimbabweans defaced their ballots to protest the illegitimacy of the one-candidate runoff. Mugabe supporters reportedly threatened people who did not vote or defaced ballots in protest; however, no widespread unrest occurred. Despite government claims of a massive turnout, election observers stated participation in the national election was considerably lower than the initial election on 29 March.
Mugabe was sworn into his sixth term as president in a hastily organized ceremony in Harare on 29 June. Government representatives rushed to swear Mugabe in to establish legitimacy for his administration after rival opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai called the election "an exercise in self-delusion." Mugabe promised to open talks with opposition groups and negotiate a peaceful resolution to the political crisis.
The runoff election in Zimbabwe was met with considerable condemnation from the international community. U.S. President George W. Bush called the runoff a "sham election that ignored the will of the people of Zimbabwe." Bush also threatened to impose a harsh embargo and travel restrictions on Zimbabwe in light of Mugabe's "blatant disregard for the Zimbabwean people's democratic will and human rights." Western observers were barred from monitoring the election and only election experts from the Pan-African Parliament and South African Development Community were invited to examine election procedures. These observers also condemned the conduct of the elections. An official U.N. Security Council statement expressed regret that Zimbabwe went ahead with the one-candidate election but did not call the vote illegitimate.
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| Runoff election voting begins |
| 27 Jun 2008 |
| Voting began in the one-candidate presidential runoff election in Zimbabwe on 27 June 2008 amid an environment of intimidation. Poll stations -- which are being guarded by security forces -- opened at approximately 0700 local time (0500 UTC) and are expected to close at 1900 local time (1700 UTC). Militias loyal to President Robert Mugabe are patrolling each of Zimbabwe's 10 provinces to ensure people vote and to "assist" those who do not know how to vote. Many Zimbabweans fear that if they do not vote they will be susceptible to reprisals by Mugabe's ZANU-PF militias and security forces. Despite this, initial reports indicate that turnout has been much lower than that of the first round on 29 March.
Zimbabwean police officials report that five Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) youths were arrested when they were caught planning to carry out arson attacks on polling stations in the central city of Gweru. Despite these arrests, there have been no major incidents of violence reported during the second round of voting. Although MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai's name remains on the ballot, Mugabe is virtually ensured victory in the poll, winning his sixth consecutive term as president. The international community has condemned the election as a "sham."
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| Opposition pull out of run-off elections |
| 23 Jun 2008 |
| Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's announcement on 22 June 2008 that he will pull out of planned run-off elections sparked considerable international condemnation of President Robert Mugabe's administration. European Union (EU) leaders called the withdrawal "understandable" considering the current government's "systematic campaign of violence, obstruction and intimidation." EU officials also threatened to impose harsh sanctions on Zimbabwe in addition to an existing arms embargo and travel restrictions. French President Nicolas Sarkozy claimed that Mugabe was using strong-arm tactics "to gag the people of Zimbabwe." South African President Thabo Mbeki urged both Tsvangirai and Mugabe to enter into talks to defuse the growing political crisis. U.S. and U.K. officials have also stated they are prepared to bring Zimbabwe before the U.N. Security Council regarding the election-related violence that has killed approximately 90 Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters thus far.
Despite Tsvangirai's withdrawal, election officials announced that the runoff scheduled for 27 June will be held as planned. Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party have stated that they believe Tsvangirai's announcement to withdraw from the election is a ruse as he has not yet put his decision into a formal written document as required by law. Tsvangirai and the MDC are scheduled to meet this week to discuss their party vision and way forward that will be announced on 25 June.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that more than 10 police officers raided MDC headquarters on 23 June and arrested approximately 60 women and children who had fled to the offices to escape the political violence. Witnesses in Zimbabwe have reported that army helicopters and armed militia have been deployed in Harare and Bulawayo. Reports also indicate that violent youth gangs who support Mugabe have been attacking people in the streets of Harare, although the extent of the violence is not currently known. Tsvangirai has noted that one reason he withdrew from the run-off was to prevent any further loss of life caused by election violence.
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