President Robert Mugabe's government cannot lead Zimbabwe out of its current humanitatian crisis, the Elders group of influential statesmen has said.
A South African delegation is visiting Zimbabwe to decide how best to help deal with a cholera outbreak that has killed nearly 600 people there.
It is already giving food and drugs, and is trying to decide how much additional aid is needed.
The World Health Organisation has said nearly 14,000 cases of the disease have now been reported in Zimbabwe.
Harare appealed for international aid last week, declaring the cholera epidemic a national emergency.
'Bitter disappointment'
Over the border in South Africa, eight people have died of cholera in the town of Musina, which is "the first port of call for Zimbabweans crossing the border", says the BBC's Jonah Fisher, who is in the town.
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"Musina is also now a treatment centre for Zimbabweans with cholera, unable to find clean water or medication in their own country."
On Sunday, the Elders group of influential statesmen said that President Robert Mugabe's government could not lead Zimbabwe out of its current humanitarian crisis.
The group - which includes former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan - said there was "bitter disappointment" with the current leadership.
The group - which includes former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan - said there was "bitter disappointment" with the current leadership.
The group also called on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to help contain a cholera outbreak.
The group also called on the Southern African Development Community to help contain the outbreak.
Humanitarian agencies say the epidemic has claimed about 600 lives so far.
The Elders include former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, former US President Jimmy Carter and international advocate for women and children's rights Graca Machel.
"There is bitter disappointment in the current leadership. This government has not demonstrated the ability to lead the country out of its current crisis," said former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
'People are suffering'
Ms Machel, wife of the group's founder and former South African President Nelson Mandela, said that either Zimbabwe's leaders do not understand how deeply their people are suffering, "or they don't care".
Mr Annan, Ms Machel and Mr Carter were refused visas to visit Zimbabwe at the end of November.
Their report is based on talks with aid and development workers, politicians and others and is addressed to Zimbabwe's political leaders, leaders of SADC and donors.
Among other things, it calls on SADC to take a more active role in accelerating the transition of Zimbabwe to an inclusive power-sharing government.
The Elders were refused entry to Zimbabwe in November
It also calls on the bloc to acknowledge the seriousness of the refugee crisis in the region and to help contain Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic.
Mr Carter said: "Zimbabwe urgently needs the rapid formation of a workable government.
"The regime has been in denial about what is happening in their country, and the region has not really wanted to know either.
"The cholera epidemic has shown just how serious the situation in Zimbabwe has become."
International aid agencies have welcomed growing pressure from world leaders on Mr Mugabe's regime.
The World Health Organisation said close to 14,000 cases of the disease have now been reported in Zimbabwe but there could be many more.
"We know that the reporting system in the country has some weaknesses. There is a likelihood that there could be some gaps," spokesman Paul Garwood said.
Oxfam warned that serious food shortages will hit the country within weeks and aid agencies may be forced to ration supplies.
Donors needed
Caroline Hooper-Box, a spokeswoman for the charity in South Africa, said: "We welcome the acknowledgement by the international community that this is an humanitarian crisis.
"But our view is that the ordinary poor and vulnerable people in Zimbabwe can't wait for a political solution before aid is given.
"Our concern is that the international community should not forget that there is enormous hunger in the population now. Donors have not come through on the food crisis."
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's government has accused former colonial ruler Britain of using the cholera outbreak to rally Western support for an invasion of the collapsing African nation, a state-run newspaper said on Sunday.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown earlier branded President Robert Mugabe's government a "blood-stained regime" and said it was responsible for the outbreak.
But Mr Mugabe's spokesman, George Charamba, said growing Western criticism signalled a plot to oust Mugabe's government militarily.
"I don't know what this mad prime minister [Brown] is talking about. He is asking for an invasion of Zimbabwe ... but he will come unstuck," Mr Charamba told the state-controlled Sunday Mail.
