Robert Mugabe’s government has attempted to row back on the President’s claim that the cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe is over, saying he was joking.

Mr Mugabe said his country’s doctors had halted the spread of cholera as the death toll rose to 783 and the United Nations made plans to deal with 60,000 cases. His remarks prompted international condemnation.

But today George Charamba, Mr Mugabe’s spokesman, told The Herald newspaper – a government mouthpiece – that the octogenarian president was using “sarcasm” when he made the statement.

Mr Mugabe told national television that “there is no cholera” and that the West’s basis for instigating regime change was undermined.

“I am happy to say our doctors have been assisted by others and they have now arrested cholera,” Mugabe said.

The World Health Organisation said today that Zimbabwe’s cholera epidemic is not under control and the death toll has risen to 792.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said Mr Mugabe’s comments were disturbing whichever way they were meant.

“Either Mr Mugabe is mischievous or genuinely out of touch with reality," said Nelson Chamisa, a spokesman for the party.

“Instead of conveying a message of condolences, Mr Mugabe was busy politicking.”

The cholera epidemic is only the latest grim symptom of Zimbabwe’s ruination. The economy has crumbled under the world’s highest inflation rate, last estimated in July at 231 million percent but now believed to be much higher.

A new 500 million dollar note, worth 10 US dollars (7.50 euros), was introduced today. The central bank cannot print money fast enough to keep pace with prices that rise several times a day.

Currency shortages mean cash can only be withdrawn once a week from banks, and then people are allowed to take only 500 million dollars, which is not enough to see them through the day.

Hospitals have no drugs, no equipment and no staff left to treat the cholera epidemic, which has spread as sewage and water lines have broken down, contaminating the drinking supply.

A political stalemate between Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has deepened the crisis after disputed elections earlier this year. The two signed a power-sharing deal three months ago but have so far failed to agree on how to form a unity government.

The United States called yesterday for South Africa to close its border with Zimbabwe and cut off deliveries to the country.

“This is a landlocked country. And its formal and informal economies would suffer. Within a week, it would bring the economy on its knees,” a senior US official said in Washington.

Meanwhile one South African church leader likened Mr Mugabe to Hitler. Bishop Joe Seoka called for the 84-year-old to face charges for war crimes.

“Mugabe must be viewed as the 21st century Hitler because of the deaths and suffering of Zimbabweans under his rule,” he said.

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