Mugabe blames West for cholera

December 12, 2008

The U.S. said the cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe was worsening, contradicting President Robert Mugabe's assertion that the crisis had been contained. The Zimbabwean leader said in a nationally televised speech that his government had "arrested" the epidemic, which has so far killed nearly 800 people and infected at least 16,000. Mugabe accuses western powers of plotting to overthrow him. The outbreak has led to a chorus of renewed calls by international leaders for him to step down.