FP makes the prime minister’s briefing in Zimbabwe

A few weeks back, I reported on the case of Georges Tadonki, a former U.N. official who claims that he was dismissed in part because he was outspoken in his warnings of a cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe in 2008 and 2009. Earlier this month, the report caught the attention of the office of that country’s ...

By , International Crisis Group’s senior analyst for Colombia.

A few weeks back, I reported on the case of Georges Tadonki, a former U.N. official who claims that he was dismissed in part because he was outspoken in his warnings of a cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe in 2008 and 2009. Earlier this month, the report caught the attention of the office of that country's prime minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, in relation to a new epidemic: measles.

A few weeks back, I reported on the case of Georges Tadonki, a former U.N. official who claims that he was dismissed in part because he was outspoken in his warnings of a cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe in 2008 and 2009. Earlier this month, the report caught the attention of the office of that country’s prime minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, in relation to a new epidemic: measles.

In recent weeks, measles outbreaks have been reported across Zimbabwe — not yet on the scale of the cholera epidemic by any means, but still alarming by all accounts. The prime minister’s weekly newsletter cites the FP piece, setting up a contrast between the two cases, in hopes that this time will be different. "Fortunately, the response to the measles outbreak has been much more open, transparent and effective than the reaction to the cholera epidemic."

Let’s hope so. In addition to the measles cases that are mounting, a recent World Health Organization report also cites a jump in the number of cholera cases reported in Zimbabwe last month. 

Elizabeth Dickinson is International Crisis Group’s senior analyst for Colombia.

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