Authorities in Harare have declared a state of emergency over a cholera outbreak that has claimed dozens of lives and affected more than 7,000 others.

Harare mayor Ian Makone said the state of emergency was meant to contain an outbreak that is spreading like wildfire across the city of about two million people.

“We have declared a state of emergency because of cholera,” Makone told journalists.

He said cholera cases in Harare are spreading at a pace last seen in 2008 when a similar outbreak claimed over 4,000 lives and affected more than 100,000 others.

“The cholera outbreak has come with vengeance.”

The epicentre of the latest Harare outbreak is the high-density suburb of Kuwadzana, which accounts for nearly half the reported cases, according to the authorities.

The mayor said the Harare City Council was looking for assistance to help contain the spread and provide safe water.

The outbreak, which has affected all of the country’s 10 provinces, is blamed on a lack of access to clean water.

Due to the collapse of the country’s water infrastructure, most Zimbabweans now rely on boreholes and unprotected wells for drinking water.