The country is currently in the throes of a serious cholera crisis that
has hit almost all high density suburbs in Harare and left over 300
people dead.
To date, all polyclinics, which are already reeling with acute
shortages of medicines and health staff, are overcrowded with starving
people who have become victims of the contagious disease. The current
water shortages are set to worsen an already dire humanitarian
situation in Zimbabwe.
The MDC believes that Zanu PF policies are responsible for the crisis
that we find ourselves in. Two years ago, Zanu PF took an unpopular
decision to hand over water management to the ill-equipped Zimbabwe
National Water Authority (ZINWA), an underfunded and corrupt layer of
patronage that has dismally failed to deliver clean water in our homes.
Last week, Zanu PF barred a group of Elders led by former United
Nations Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, which would have helped
mobilize global assistance in areas of food, medicines, and the
provision of clean water. As a nation, we are suffering because of
political mischief and mischief on the part of Zanu PF.
The MDC feels that the issue of transition remains the only credible answer to the problems affecting Zimbabwe.
The MDC calls upon the friends of the people of Zimbabwe to help assist
in dealing with this crisis that threatens to leave the whole country
in ruins and in a catastrophic position. Zanu PF has sacrificed the
people’s lives for political expediency by refusing international
assistance and barring eminent Elders from assessing the humanitarian
crisis in Zimbabwe.
The water crisis is a manifestation of the collapse of everything in
Zimbabwe. The lack of clean water in Harare is going worsen the cholera
situation in the country, leaving Harare as the capital of cholera.
The MDC believes that an expedient resolution of the political impasse
will be the ultimate answer to this crisis. Zanu PF must respect the
people’s will and agree to have the MDC as an equal partner in
governance so that a legitimate government begins to address the
people’s concerns, including the lack of clean water in our homes.
Zanu PF must declare cholera and the acute shortage of water national
disasters. The people of Zimbabwe want a responsible, legitimate
government that will address the their plight.
by Nelson Chamisa
MDC Information and Publicity
Post published in: News