A cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe has killed almost 500 people as the country lurches into its worst crisis for a decade with water cut-off and riots breaking out in Harare.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said today that the southern African nation was suffering its most severe outbreak of the disease in recent times while the Government is paralysed by a failing power-sharing agreement.

Cholera is easily prevented and treated under normal circumstances but as the Zimbabwean infrastructure collapses the WHO is reporting outbreaks in most regions of the country. It has recorded 473 deaths from 11,700 cases with a fatality rate of up to 50 per cent in some areas.

“Cholera outbreaks in Zimbabwe have occurred annually since 1998, but previous epidemics never reached today’s proportions. The last large outbreak was in 1992 with 3,000 cases recorded,” the WHO said in a report.

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Zimbabwean rights groups estimate that up to 1,000 people have died from the disease. The water delivery system has broken down in Harare and other cities, forcing residents to drink from contaminated wells and streams.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) urged President Mugabe to accept international humanitarian help. “The country is reaching a catastrophic level, in terms of food, health delivery, education,” said Morgan Tsvangirai, the MDC leader. “Everything seems to be collapsing around us.”

The seething anger felt by ordinary Zimbabweans exploded yesterday as hundreds of off-duty soldiers went on the rampage in the centre of Harare. Witnesses said that the violence erupted at a bus depot on the edge of the city centre where soldiers, frustrated at not being able to draw cash from banks, confronted illegal moneychangers. The dealers scattered and the soldiers turned on the city, followed by civilians spurring them on. The mobs stoned cars and looted shops. In the panic, home-bound workers fled and traffic jammed as motorists tried to turn back from the scene.

It was the first serious public unrest since the riots over food price increases ten years ago. The disturbance brought a swift and brutal response from the authorities who swamped the area with heavily armed paramilitary police and troops. At least one man was shot.

The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) admitted today that it is worried by the outbreaks of violence among its members.

Simon Tsatsi, a ZNA spokesman, said: “Those are just undisciplined soldiers. As you know, we’ve been having deserters, who are giving us problems.

“We are worried about this development, which is in no way sanctioned by the ZNA. As you know, the police remain in charge of maintaining law and order during peacetime, so we’re working with them and investigating this matter.”

The Zimbabwe National Water Authority turned off the pumps in the capital yesterday after it ran out of purifying chemicals. With cholera cases soaring and an anthrax outbreak ravaging the countryside, David Parirenyatwa, the Health Minister, urged Zimbabweans to stop shaking hands to avoid spreading disease.

Companies and government offices, especially those in high-rise buildings, were sending workers home by midday as lavatories became blocked. “My office stinks and the toilet is a disgusting site,” said Mary Sakupwene, a secretary. “I won’t go back until the water’s on again.”

The four-star Jameson Hotel stopped taking guests and other less exclusive ones closed. Restaurants provided buckets of water for hand-washing and flushing. There was a sharp increase in people turning up at the Harare Sports Club – served by boreholes – for their ablutions after their home taps ran dry. It notified members that from today they would be charged $US2 (£1.34) for a shower.

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