Outbreaks of cholera and diarrhea have been reported in the Mabvuku and Tafara districts of Harare, Zimbabwe, which have been experiencing water system problems for some time, and local clinics report a surge in people seeking treatment.
Residents have resorted to digging wells to secure water, and those who still receive water through municipal pipes report it is always dirty and has a suspicious odor.
The Combined Harare Residents Association said it visited the affected Harare wards earlier this week to assess conditions. It said most residents cannot afford medical attention and are resorting to traditional remedies or suffering untreated.
Association Chief Executive Barnabas Mangodza told reporter Jonga Kandemiiri of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that his group has alerted the Health Ministry and will petition parliament and the Water Resources Ministry for urgent action.