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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Health Crisis - Focus on Cholera and Anthrax - Index of articles
Residents
sue ZINWA over cholera deaths
The Zimbabwe Times
November 24, 2008
http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=7837
More than 100 residents
of Harare's Budiriro suburb and Chitungwiza are filing a law
suit and claiming damages of up to $2 hexilion against the Zimbabwe
National Water Authority (ZINWA) over the cholera epidemic which
has claimed the lives of their relatives.
The lawsuit will be filed
in the High Court in Harare this week by law firm Mucheche and Matsikidze
Legal Practioners, acting on behalf of the residents.
The lawsuit seeks to
have ZINWA relieved of its responsibilities for having failed to
provide safe and clean water in the urban centres of Zimbabwe, leading
to the outbreak of the deadly disease.
"We have been approached
by twenty families from Budiriro in Harare who have lost relatives
in the current cholera outbreak. The chairman of Chitungwiza Residents
Association (CRA) has also approached us.
"We are now compiling
the names of relatives of victims who intent to be covered under
this law suit," said Rogers Matsikidze of Mucheche and Matsikidze.
"We are looking at well over a hundred cases."
Matsikidze said ZINWA
would have 21 days to admit or deny that it has failed to deliver
water to residents. It will be further argued that the responsibility
for water provision and administration be returned to the local
authorities.
ZINWA was launched soon
after the controversial 2000 parliamentary elections. Many observers
now view it as a dangerous and costly political experiment.
Health and Child Welfare
Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa has admitted that 281 people have
succumbed to cholera from September to date. Independent health
analysts say the disease has killed at least 300.
Parirenyatwa said: "We
are concerned about the unavailability of water and as the minister
responsible for health I am very scared, especially during this
rainy season."
The World Health Organization
(WHO) says over 6 000 people have been affected by cholera since
August.
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