Sudden Jump In Zimbabwe Cholera Cases

U.N. Reports 751 New Cases, 59 More Deaths In One Day After Disease Appeared To Be Slowing

(CBS/AP)  The U.N. reported a one-day jump in new cholera cases and deaths in Zimbabwe Tuesday, following a week in which the epidemic had showed signs of slowing.

The U.N.'s World Health Organization reported 751 new cases and 59 more deaths Monday, compared to 379 new cases and just nine deaths the previous day.

In all, impoverished Zimbabwe has had more than 34,000 cases and more than 1,700 deaths since the August start of the outbreak. President Robert Mugabe has denied that the outbreak even exists. (Exclusive video report here.)

The rapid and deadly spread of the waterborne disease is blamed on the collapse of Zimbabwe's health and sanitation infrastructure, in an economy destroyed by low production in the key agricultural sector and high inflation. A deadlock over power-sharing has kept political leaders from addressing the crisis.

WHO's cholera report for the week that ended Saturday showed a "marked decrease" over the previous week, with 3,690 cases compared to 5,730, and 79 deaths down from 358. The agency cautioned, though, that official figures were likely low, because many Zimbabweans can't get to clinics and hospitals to seek treatment. Reporting may also have affected by the New Year holiday.

The U.N. said access to and quality of care is improving, "but should continue to be strengthened." International aid agencies have geared up in recent weeks to fight the cholera epidemic.

The political deadlock, meanwhile, continues, with President Robert Mugabe's regime and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change showing little sign of moving toward compromise.

Mugabe's regime has accused its opponents of plotting violence, even though leaders of neighboring countries and international rights groups have said such charges are baseless. The opposition says the plot allegations have been fabricated amid an increasing clampdown on dissent, and could be used as an excuse to declare a state of emergency.

None of the accused has been formally charged. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai had threatened to pull out of power-sharing talks if they were not charged or released by Jan. 1, but has not yet moved to do so.

On Tuesday, a magistrate ordered a prominent peace activist and eight opposition members accused in the plot held another week while lawyers argue over whether they should be examined at a hospital so charges of torture can be investigated. Another judge had ordered the medical exams on Monday, but prosecutors have appealed that order.

Beatrice Mtetwa, a lawyer for the defendants, said the accused were "victims of torture" who "should not be brought before any court as they were unlawfully arrested."

Mugabe, who has been in power since the country's 1980 independence from Britain, agreed in September to share power with the opposition following a disputed presidential election. Under the deal, Mugabe is to remain president and Tsvangirai would get the new post of prime minister.

The deal has broken down, with Tsvangirai accusing Mugabe of trying to hold on to too many key Cabinet posts.

The Herald newspaper, a government mouthpiece, reported Monday that Mugabe was expected to form a new government by the end of February, apparently without the opposition. Tsvangirai insists he will not become prime minister in a unity government until disagreements are settled.

[dubya_luvr]

WHO IS GOING TO SAVE US FROM THE UN AND THE LIBERALS??

Posted by MrNegrodamus at 12:08 AM : Jan 07, 2009

What a totally empty post. Can''t the RNC come up with better trolls?

[lady54-2009]

Here''s Politics!

It is believed that we could reduce the child mortality rate in Africa by several million per years if we simply distributed "1 A Day" vitamins in the worst areas. The big question is what do we do with millions of people who can''t afford "1 a Day" vitamins?

Heart, Education and conviction.

What a life.

[clew37]

As has been recently reported, all vitamins given in pills are about equal to placebos. The body cannot properly absorb vitamins except when taken normally through food. Otherwise it just passes straight through the body and is excreted. Vitamins have been just another medical con. Some vitamins are able to be given in pill form, Vitamin C and A and iron. The rest are like eating corn.

[drinuk]

Hopefully Robert Mugabe and ALL of his thugs, men and women will die a slow lingering death of Cholera before much longer.

It would also be very good if all the liberal interfering b a s t a r d s who took Southern Rhodesia away from the White Rule of Ian Smith got Cholera too and suffered for all those Blacks who have since died and been beaten by the people they gave the country to.

[drinuk]

Maybe we should all ask Dr David Owen if he is Proud of his work on board HMS Tiger all those years ago. Maybe he should make retribution to the Black people of Zimbabwe. At the very least publicly apologize for the pain his egotism has caused.

One day politicians are going to answer for their poor and often criminal decisions. Dr David Owen is culpable with regard to the current situation in Zimbabwe, the Genocide will be his legacy.

[vcofreason]

If something like this were happening here in the US, there would be an outcry the likes of which we''ve never seen. Why it seems to be "OK" to brush off thousands sick and dying in another country and allow their leader to not help them, I find it quite sick and disgusting that there isn''t something being done. We are human beings, all here living our lives on this planet and what we do to each other is pitiful.

[louiville2]

This is what happens when they runoff/kill the golden gooses.

Another Jimmy Carter sign of hope and prosperity.

[whitemale08]

If the British like so-called Lord Malloch Brown would stop with the economic warfare of sanctions then this would not be happening.

Zimbabwe is a soveriegn nation that has the right to not sell it''s agriculture on the ''open market'' so the City of London can loot it by giving it absolutely worthless paper money in British pounds.

Anglo-Americans should be completely ashamed of itself for looting these countries with worthless fiat-currency that they can''t do anything with because their private central banks are told to take the worthless ''dollars'' and devalue their own currency.

The British Global Financial System is an EVIL empire that is already dead and its corpse must be buried before anymore people catch a disease from it.

[louiville2]

If the British like so-called Lord Malloch Brown would stop with the economic warfare of sanctions then this would not be happening.

Zimbabwe is a soveriegn nation that has the right to not sell it''''s agriculture on the ''''open market'''' so the City of London can loot it by giving it absolutely worthless paper money in British pounds.

Anglo-Americans should be completely ashamed of itself for looting these countries with worthless fiat-currency that they can''''t do anything with because their private central banks are told to take the worthless ''''dollars'''' and devalue their own currency.

The British Global Financial System is an EVIL empire that is already dead and its corpse must be buried before anymore people catch a disease from it.


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Posted by whitemale08 at 09:47 AM

I just knew someone would blaim it all on some white guy.

[clathrate]

If the British like so-called Lord Malloch Brown would stop with the economic warfare of sanctions then this would not be happening.

-posted by whitemale08-

Right...this whole problem was caused by the British, and not the nutcase Robert Mugabe.

Man, you are losing credibility day by day. I''m sure you also think Thabo Mbeki is a hero. News break: these "friends of the ANC" are a disgrace. These tin-horn dictators are a disgrace, and yet because they''re black, you support them 100%.

It''s ironic that the very people causing the most harm to Africa aren''t white colonialists, it''s the power-mad black Africans themselves. But, that''s nothing new. Shaka Zulu? Oh, he''s a heroic historic black figure...who systematically had 100,000''s of his own people brutally murdered, raped, and starved to death.

Get a clue. Even Desmond Tutu and Mandela have called for Mugabe to get the F out.

[clathrate]

So the arabic/muslims got hold of some more cholera infected water and handed it out to the people of Zimbabwe...

The genocide of the gentle Shona people of Zimbabwe continues...the arabic/muslim''''s attempt to take over another country whose wealth was built by Christians continues to spread across Africa...


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Posted by TexHillGirl

I see it''s not only the "afrocentric" liberals who are crazy today.

I hate to fill your mind with facts, but there aren''t any crazy arabs in Zimbabwe. Sudan is 3000 miles away.

Robert Mugabe is killing his people. It''s just a fact. You don''t need to invent some ridiculous story about arabs or muslims. Ironically, you are creating cover for the uber-liberals with your lies and crazy confabulations. But, then again, crazy liberals have more in common with crazy cons than anyone else these days...

[whitemale08]

Get a clue. Even Desmond Tutu and Mandela have called for Mugabe to get the F out.


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Posted by clathrate at 12:34 PM : Jan 07, 2009--

It''s amazing how when our own white race is looting us and raping us right now you cannot possibly believe they are evil enough to loot black people!

Truly amazing.

This country, the United States, will turn out just like Zimbabwe in the very near future. That''s right you idiot....

Unemployment, looting by banks from IMF/World Bank, free-trade globalization, is destroying this country as we speak and yet you sit there on your hi-horse shouting at the top of your lungs our white race is so honorable.

To think that you believe the ''financial system'', designed by the Anglo-Duth for the purpose of looting, and worthless fiat-currency is benevolent to these countries shows how retarded you are.

And George Bush is a prime example of how once your economy is threatened you will use any excuse even the exuse of terrorism to torture,

kill 1.5 million Iraqis, and spread death and Mayhem throughout the world. HOW DARE YOU CALL THESE AFRICAN LEADERS 10 HORN DICATORS WHEN BUSH REPRESENTS THE WILD BEAST!

[louiville2]

kill 1.5 million Iraqis, and spread death and Mayhem throughout the world. HOW DARE YOU CALL THESE AFRICAN LEADERS 10 HORN DICATORS WHEN BUSH REPRESENTS THE WILD BEAST!


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Posted by whitemale08 at 03:09 PM

Quick get a net what a loon racist bigot.

[whitemale08]

Quick get a net what a loon racist bigot.


Posted by louiville2 at 03:45 PM : Jan 07, 2009--

You''re the loon racist bigot since you have no argument but defend the evil financial system that our race, the Anglo race designed.

Black folks did not design worthless fiat-debt-based-currency to loot countries, WE DID!!!

[louiville2]

You''''re the loon racist bigot since you have no argument but defend the evil financial system that our race, the Anglo race designed.

Black folks did not design worthless fiat-debt-based-currency to loot countries, WE DID!!!

Posted by whitemale08 at 03:50 PM

Sure wink wink white people don''t call black people black folks. and they don''t call themselves Anglo''s. blackmale08

BTW Shake in a big chunk of kleptocracy of Mugabe to Zim''s greed, jealousy and bigotry and you have why they are where they are.