Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has said that the cholera outbreak has ended. Perhaps this is just a last ditch effort to remain in power.
The country of Zimbabwe has been plunged into further chaos as it has to deal with both a cholera outbreak and an anthrax outbreak. However, more attention was being paid to the cholera outbreak. But, the
anthrax outbreak threatens to kill off all the cattle in northern Zimbabwe. Hungry families have eaten the infected meat out of desperation. Many have illegally crossed over borders to other neighboring African countries.
The international community has already given full criticism to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. Representatives of the international community have said that Mugabe’s administration is ill-financed, ill-prepared, and unfit to handle the situation. Many have called Mugabe to step down from office. However, Mugabe has brushed off all calls. Instead, he once again accused the international community of plotting to remove him from office.
“
I am happy to say our doctors have been assisted by others, and WHO (the World Health Organization) and they have now arrested cholera,” Mugabe said in a nationally broadcast speech.
However, aid agencies have a different view. So far, the infection has been spreading to South Africa. Many months ago, Zimbabwe was plunged into a political crisis as a result of the economic crisis. Zimbabwe’s inflation rate is the highest in the world. The country’s bank notes are virtually worthless. As a result, the poorest billionaires are in Zimbabwe.
“Because of cholera, Mr Brown, Mr Sarkozy and Mr Bush want military intervention. Now that there is no cholera, there is no need for war,” Mugabe added. During the post-election violence up until the runoff election, Mugabe constantly accused his opponent MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai of being a puppet for the Western nations.
Not long ago, the UN said that the cases of cholera could be up to
60,000.
The United States has said it would give
$600,000 in assistance to Zimbabwe in regards to the outbreak. But the question lies: How will Mugabe’s government spend the money?
Also, the United States is continuing to crack down on Mugabe and his administration. According to US Ambassador James McGee, the situation has plunged to the “deep south.” He accuses Mugabe of holding the country in captivity.
“
It is time for Mugabe to go. He’s outlived his usefulness in Zimbabwe,” McGee said.
So far, South Africa has to deal with the cholera crisis. Former South African President Thabo Mbeki was harshly criticized in his role for handling the negotiations between the Zanu-PF and the MDC.
But, there is still the anthrax outbreak to worry about. This could spell out as a possible international challenge for US President-Elect Barack Obama once he takes office of US President on January 20, 2009.
