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A cholera outbreak in the Zimbabwean capital left at least 20 dead and 2,000 more ill last week, the country's new health minister said on Tuesday, declaring a state of emergency.
"The city of Harare is the big problem," said the Minister of Health, Obadiah Moyo, told reporters. "This whole problem is the result of blocked sewers. And these have been reported and have never been repaired for at least two months.
"As we speak," he added, "the mayor has said that they are repairing the blocked sewers."
Mr. Moyo did not specify whether Zimbabwe had sought the assistance of international organizations. His announcement was made the day after his swearing in, along with other members of the new government appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Zimbabwe has experienced a severe cholera outbreak in 2008 and 2009, which, according to the World Health Organization, has rendered more than 98,000 people sick and killed more than 4,200 people. International aid groups have said that the country's years of economic suffering have created conditions conducive to the spread of the disease: a large number of people have moved to cities to seek work and decay.
Mnangagwa took office in November after serving as Zimbabwe's long-time leader, Robert Mugabe, and was elected in July. Zimbabwe was largely cut economically under Mugabe, whose government has become increasingly autocratic and corrupt, and the country's new leaders hope to attract foreign investment.
Since the announcement of his appointment last week, Mr. Moyo has been accused of falsifying his credentials and abusing his authority when running a hospital.
Follow Richard Pérez-Peña on Twitter: @perezpena.
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