Zimbabwe’s cholera outbreak death toll nears 800

THE death toll from Zimbabwe’s cholera outbreak soared to nearly 800 yesterday and a court ordered police to find a missing rights activist, piling more pressure on President Robert Mugabe’s government.

The spreading cholera, coupled with chronic food shortages, has highlighted the economic collapse of the southern African nation and prompted calls for Mugabe’s resignation from Western leaders and some within Africa.

The World Health Organisation said 774 Zimbabweans had died from cholera and more than 15,000 were likely infected with the disease, a sharp increase that cast doubts on official assertions that the epidemic was under control.

The government accuses foes abroad of using the epidemic to try to oust Mugabe and blames Western sanctions for ruining the country.

Mugabe’s critics say his policies have wrecked Zimbabwe.

There is little hope of recovery while deadlock remains between Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai over implementing a power-sharing deal.

Also, the Zimbabwe High Court on Tuesday ordered police to find Jestina Mukoko, a former journalist and head of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, who was taken away at gunpoint in Harare on December 3.

A unity government is widely seen as Zimbabwe’s best hope of recovering.