The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Harare

Zimbabwe's opposition leader called for a new mediator Wednesday after saying fresh power-sharing talks had made no progress, warning a humanitarian crisis posed an unprecedented threat to the country. Morgan Tsvangirai said relations with former South African leader Thabo Mbeki, the region's long-time mediator, had irretrievably broken down due to his bias towards veteran Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. Mugabe's government meanwhile insisted that it had a mass outbreak of cholera under control, a claim refuted by South Africa which said a humanitarian crisis was now plaguing its northern neighbour. "The humanitarian crisis that is now engulfing all Zimbabweans represents the greatest threat ever to face our country," Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said in a statement.

"While millions face starvation in the coming months, the death toll from cholera is now sitting at over 50 people per day and will increase dramatically now that the rainy season has begun in earnest," he said.

The United Nations has warned that Zimbabwe's cholera outbreak could snowball across southern Africa, with nearly 9,000 cases and 366 deaths reported so far.

The epidemic hit as Zimbabwe's chronic food shortages are worsening, with nearly half the population expected to need food aid in January.

The former union leader accused Mugabe of trying to cover up the problem, and said Mbeki was siding with the ruling ZANU-PF party in the unity talks, which resumed Tuesday in South Africa.

Tsvangirai said he had written to South African President Kgalema Motlanthe "detailing the irretrievable state of our relationship with Mr Mbeki and asking that he recuse himself."