Harare - UNICEF executive director Ann Veneman told journalists in Harare Saturday that Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic is not yet under control and is continuing to spread.

Veneman made her remarks at the end of a three-day visit to Zimbabwe. The disease has so far killed more than 2,200 people.

Veneman said water service and sanitation need to improve if Zimbabwe is to combat the epidemic.

Cholera "is still expanding in some communities. There is clearly an issue with the water and sanitation systems which is a problem when it comes to spreading cholera," she said.

Specifically, she noted that water and sanitation systems are old, with many leaking pipes. She said she had seen burst pipes, which could contribute to the disease's spread. The disease's spread has also been aided by shortages of water purification chemicals and uncollected garbage.

"The number of cases and deaths continues to increase although in some cases - the overall number is beginning to decline. But that does not mean it is under control," said Veneman.

Many of Harare's suburbs have been without water for almost a week, forcing resident to use shallow pits and rivers as sources of drinking water. An official with the Zimbabwe National Water Authority was quoted by the state-owned media Saturday saying the problem was due to a broken water pump.

"Our engineers are working to restore water supplies in the affected suburbs. We hope that as soon as work is done, supplies would resume in the areas," the Herald quoted Zinwa spokesperson Tsungirirai Shoriwa.

The epidemic, which broke out in August last year, has been exacerbated by a strike among doctors and nurses demanding a salary review and more supplies and better equipment for hospitals.

Veneman said UNICEF was prepared to offer five million dollars to help end the strike if it got health care workers back into hospitals to fight the epidemic. (dpa)