Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
A cholera outbreak has been confirmed in Gwanda District, Matabeleland South, with one person having died and three cases recorded so far, health authorities have revealed.
Efforts are underway to contain the water-borne disease and prevent further spread.
Gwanda District Medical Officer, Dr Blessed Gwarimbo, confirmed the outbreak in a statement, saying the cases were detected in Mashaba Ward 19, specifically in Sichebo and Olyphant villages.
“As of April 3, 2025, three suspected cholera cases and one suspected death have been reported. Rapid diagnostic tests returned positive results for all three individuals, with two cases subsequently confirmed through laboratory testing,” said Dr Gwarimbo.
The third patient, who had been admitted to the isolation facility at Manama Mission Hospital, died on April 16.
Dr Gwarimbo said that preliminary investigations suggest the outbreak was not imported, as none of the affected individuals had recently travelled. Instead, it appears to have originated within the local communities, likely due to poor water, sanitation and hygiene (Wash) conditions.
He said oral rehydration points have been established in the affected villages, with oral rehydration salts being distributed through community health workers. Additional interventions include chlorination of water sources and the distribution of WaterGuard and non-food items.
Community sensitisation campaigns, led by environmental health practitioners and local leaders, have also been launched.
Surveillance efforts have been intensified, both for specific events and at the general community level.
“The challenges that exist in the community include limited access to clean water and adequate sanitation in the affected areas.
“Informal alluvial gold panning along the Thuli River, which is two kilometres from Sichebo Village, is also increasing the risk of exposure.
“There is also a need for intensified hygiene promotion in schools, marketplaces and other high-risk zones. We call on all partners and community members to mobilise and contribute critical resources such as water purification agents, soap, buckets, medical supplies and temporary shelter,” he said.
Dr Gwarimbo stressed the importance of continued support for public awareness and hygiene promotion initiatives.
“We need stakeholders to collaborate with health promotion and environmental health teams for targeted community outreach,” he said.
He emphasised that a swift, united response is essential to control the outbreak and protect the health and well-being of communities in Gwanda. He added that the health sector will continue to co-ordinate efforts to curb the spread of the disease.
The outbreak in Gwanda forms part of a broader resurgence of cholera in several parts of Zimbabwe.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has recently issued advisories for high-risk districts.
Cholera remains a recurring public health threat, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas where access to safe water and proper sanitation is limited.
Matabeleland South has recorded sporadic outbreaks in recent years, often linked to seasonal water shortages, reliance on unprotected water sources, and poor waste disposal practices. — @DubeMatutu
