Death Toll Tops 1,100 From Zimbabwe Cholera

The new figures from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as of Wednesday, included a new outbreak.

The death toll from a cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe has soared to 1,111, the United Nations said on Thursday, adding to pressure for a quick solution to the crisis in the southern African country.

South African ruling African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma ruled out military intervention and backed a diplomatic push as the way to end political deadlock and prevent a total collapse of the once relatively prosperous nation.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African affairs Jendayi Frazer also backed a political rather than military solution but was far from hopeful about talks between President Robert Mugabe and the opposition on forming a unity government.

"We certainly think that the power sharing deal is on life support, it's close to dead," Frazer told reporters after a meeting with Mozambique President Armando Guebuza in Maputo.

The latest cholera figures from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Geneva included a new outbreak in Chegutu Urban, west of Harare, where more than 378 cases and 121 deaths were recorded, it said in a statement.

It added that more than 20,580 people had been affected by cholera since August.

The spread of the disease, which causes severe diarrhoea and dehydration and is normally easy to treat, has increased international pressure on Mugabe. Western countries have renewed calls on the veteran leader to step down.

Prominent figures, including Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Nobel peace laureate and South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, have called for Mugabe to go or for peacekeeping troops to be sent to Zimbabwe.

When asked in an interview with South Africa's 702 Talk Radio whether he favoured sending troops to Zimbabwe, ANC leader Zuma said: "No. Why military intervention when there is no war? We should be pressurising them to see the light."

MEDIATION

South Africa's ANC-led government, however, has continued to back the regional SADC group's efforts to mediate an end to the crisis. Former South African President Thabo Mbeki is leading the mediation of the power-sharing talks.

Mugabe, 84, agreed to share power with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in September, raising hopes that a unity government could reverse the country's economic meltdown and rebuild basic services.

Inflation in Zimbabwe has spiralled out of control. Prices are doubling every 24 hours and unemployment is above 80 percent. Millions have fled to South Africa and neighbouring countries is search of work and food.

Negotiations between Mugabe's ZANU-PF party and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change are deadlocked over who should control key ministries, and there are growing fears the agreement will unravel and lead to violence.

Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe in a March presidential election but without an absolute majority. He pulled out of the run-off in June, saying scores of his supporters had been killed.

The opposition says attacks have picked up again. They say more than 20 people, including prominent former journalist Jestina Mukoko, have been abducted from their homes and offices in the past two weeks.

A freelance photojournalist, Shadrack Manyere, is among those missing and believed to be in police custody, the Committee to Protect Journalists said in a statement.

"We hold the Zimbabwe government responsible for his safety and well-being, and demand his immediate release," said Tom Rhodes, the Africa programme coordinator for the New York-based group.