Zimbabwe’s parliament has been forced to close because it has run out of cash and water, the opposition claimed today, as the country’s economic crisis causes a virtual shutdown of public life.

Hotels in Harare have been refusing to accept MPs because the parliament has no money to pay their expenses or allowances.

It has also gone days without water. Speaking to the independent news agency Zim Online, Innocent Gonese, chief whip of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, said: “Parliament has no money to pay for the MPs’ allowances and accommodation. That is why parliament had to adjourn to December 16. There was also no water at the building.”

On Tuesday the high court was forced to close because of water shortages. Many schools and hospitals are also shut.

The capital’s main hospital, Harare Central, has been spared daily water and power cuts, but most of its wards are empty, and the reception areas are deserted, according to the US medical charity Operation Hope. “I have never seen anything like this,” said its director, Jennifer Trubenbach.

Zimbabwe’s economic crisis means its water authority is unable to import chemicals to purify Harare’s supply.

Meanwhile, state media reported today that Robert Mugabe has started the process of forming an “inclusive government” in line with the recommendations at the weekend by the 15-nation Southern African Development Commission (SADC).

A power-sharing deal was stalled after the Zimbabwean president appointed his own party representatives to the cabinet jobs.

The MDC is meeting today to discuss its response to the SADC proposals to break the deadlock.

– By Matthew Weaver and agencies | | guardian.co.uk.