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Munyaradzi Musiiwa  and Mukudzei Chingwere
Government will soon evict vendors in all towns and cities in the Midlands Province as a precautionary measure to curb any possible spreading of typhoid following an outbreak of the water-borne disease in Gweru.

Typhoid claimed nine lives and affected more than 1 500 people in the Midlands capital since its outbreak in July.

There were fears that the disease was now spreading to Kwekwe, Shurugwi, Zvishavane and Mberengwa after there was a spate of sicknesses presenting symptoms similar to typhoid in the four districts.

Gweru City Council successfully removed vendors from pavements in the CBD as one of the measures to combat typhoid.

Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Owen Ncube said the province had resolved to remove all vendors in towns and cities in the province to avoid any possible spreading of the disease.

Minister Ncube said all local authorities had been notified of the development and the directive would soon be implemented.

“We have managed to restore sanity in Gweru and the exercise will now spread to other towns in the province,” he said.

“We need to keep our towns and cities clean. What we are doing will ensure that typhoid will not spread to other towns in the province.

“Gweru is the capital city of the province and the disease can easily spread. So, it is prudent for us to be proactive.”

Midlands provincial medical director Dr Simon Nyadundu recently said there were reported cases of people who could be suffering from the same disease in Zvishavane, Kwekwe, Shurugwi and Mberengwa.

He said there was need to first carry out investigations to ascertain if it was indeed typhoid.

Dr Nyadundu said there was also need for a rapid response in dealing with such cases.

“I can confirm that we have received a report that there are people who are suffering from illnesses that have similar symptoms to those that we are experiencing in Gweru,” he said.

“However, we are investigating the cases so that we are sure on whether it is or it is not typhoid.”