By Talent Gondo| Several new cholera cases have been recorded in St Mary’s Chitungwiza as the city continues to grapple with water and sanitation related challenges.

Sources privy to developments in the area told ZimEye that although 7 new cases of the disease were recorded and treated at St Mary’s Centre in the satellite town, there were no deaths as a result of the outbreak.

“A 72 year old woman, a 35 year old mother and her twin daughters aged 4 and another man and his tenants were all confirmed cholera positive and they were treated and discharged,” said the source.

According to the source, the affected people had their houses sprayed to avoid the spread of the disease.

Chitungwiza has been at the receiving end of water borne diseases including cholera and typhoid.

Cholera is highly infectious, causing severe watery diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated.

The disease is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae.

In its election manifesto launched Friday in Harare, Zanu Pf pledged to redress the water woes bedevilling the nation promising the provision of sufficient drinking water and sanitation for the citizenry

“As a right conferred to citizens by
the Constitution, Zanu Pf pledges the provision of sufficient drinking water and sanitation to meet WHO standards,” read the manifesto.

The party promised to pursue and implement a national rehabilitation programme of all water purification plants and completing projects including the Gwayi-Tshangani Dam, Mutange Dam, Kunzvi Dam and Wenimbi pipeline.

“We aim to capacitate ZINWA, increase water reservoirs, establish high capacity boreholes in each and every community,  embark on a water harvesting programme and reduce water charges,” read the manifesto.