Cholera Overwhelms Southern Africa

By Vesla Centurion Kals

Amidst a concerning surge in cholera cases, Zambia’s health ministry has reported a staggering 7,000 infections, with 273 fatalities since last October.

Health Minister Sylvia Masebo, said this week that measures have been intensified to contain the cholera outbreak, which has now extended its grip to 12 districts across the country.

Meanwhile, in Zimbabwe, Education Minister Torerai Moyo has urged schools to promote handwashing by installing hand-washing points as they reopen.

However, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) criticized the government’s decision to resume school activities amidst a widespread cholera outbreak, deeming it a reckless move.

Facing a cholera outbreak for the past three months, Zimbabwe’s government initiated “Chenesa Harare,” an operation aimed at cleaning up the city by collecting garbage, coupled with plans to allocate funds for water purification chemicals.

In Mozambique, misinformation about the causes of cholera triggered riots, leading to the tragic murder of at least three community leaders and the destruction of 50 houses in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.

Ministry of Health data from October to January revealed a total of 8,878 cholera cases and 25 fatalities.