The number of people suffering from cholera in Zimbabwe has risen to more than 69,000 cases, UN figures showed, putting further pressure on leaders to end a humanitarian crisis after forming a unity government.

The World Health Organization said the epidemic has killed 3,397 people out of 69,317 cases since August, the deadliest outbreak in Africa in 15 years.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change's decision to create a unity government with President Robert Mugabe could give authorities a better chance of tackling the disease that has deepened Zimbabwe's hardships.