Water was cut because of a shortage of purification chemicals, The Herald newspaper quotes water authority officials as saying.

At least 400 people have died in recent months from cholera - a disease spread by contaminated water.

Health Minister David Parirenyatwa said people should stop shaking hands to prevent the disease spreading.

"I want to stress the issue of shaking hands. Although it's part of our tradition to shake hands, it's high time people stopped shaking hands," he told The Herald.

The spread of cholera has been fuelled by the collapse of Zimbabwe's health and sanitation systems.

The government has blamed this on Western sanctions it says are aimed at trying to bring down President Robert Mugabe.

But the sanctions imposed after allegations of electoral fraud and political violence are aimed at Mr Mugabe and his close associates and consist of travel bans and a freeze on their foreign assets.

Zimbabwe's is struggling with an economic crisis - the latest annual inflation rate was 231,000,000% and just one adult in five is estimated to have a regular job.

BBC