Bulawayo-At least 8 people have died of cholera and 30 have been hospitalised in Esigodini, 40 kilometres outside of Bulawayo on the Johannesburg-Bulawayo highway.

According to the Deputy minister of Health and Child Welfare, the outbreak of this disease is not linked to the current outbreak in Chitungwiza. Dr Edwin Muguti said 51 out 99 people admitted to hospital have been treated and discharged since the disease struck the farming town of Esigodini.

Cholera cases have been on an increase ever since goverment handed over water supplies, sewer and reticulation services to the Zimbabwe Water Authority, ZINWA from opposition run local authorities.