Harare - Zimbabwe has declared the cholera outbreak that has claimed close to 600 lives a national emergency, and appealed for international aid to immediately tackle the epidemic, Health Minister David Parirenyatwa confirmed Thursday.

Parirenyatwa told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa: "We are expecting the international community to chip in with assistance so that the pandemic can be eradicated as soon as possible."

Cholera is the latest challenge to beset poverty-stricken Zimbabwe, which is experiencing its worst-ever economic and humanitarian crisis. Over half the population are in dire need of food aid and all government hospitals have been closed for a month as doctors and nurses strike over pay and conditions.

Thursday's edition of the state-owned daily The Herald earlier quoted Parirenyatwa as saying: "Our central hospitals are literally not functioning. Our staff is demotivated and we need your support to ensure that they start coming to work and our health system is revived."

"The emergency appeal will help us reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with the current socio-economic environment," he was further quoted as saying.

Health experts blame the outbreak of water-borne cholera since August on the government's failure to import water treatment chemicals and to dispose of sewage and garbage.

The capital Harare has been experiencing acute shortages of water resulting in residents resorting to shallow wells and rivers for drinking water.

Harare ran completely dry for more than 48 hours from Saturday after water purification chemicals ran out. The situation has yet to return to normal, with most parts of the city still without water.

The cholera outbreak has already spread to neighbouring South Africa, where seven people have died in the border town of Musina, according to provincial health authorities. (dpa)