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New York. — The government is finalising a deal with a Chinese firm to build the long-delayed Kunzvi Dam near Harare to increase the capital’s water supplies, a cabinet minister said on Wednesday. Speaking to journalists ahead of a United Nations climate summit here, Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said the two sides were nearing agreement on the deal, expected to cost $850 million. She said the deal involves Sino-Hydro of China and construction of the dam was expected to start at the beginning of next year.

The project has suffered numerous delays and controversies over the years, with many bidders vying and falling by the wayside for the multi-million dollar contract. Muchinguri-Kashiri said the government and Sino-Hydro were negotiating a build, operate and transfer deal which would be less financially burdensome for the country.

The parties, she said, are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding soon to pave way for the start of construction. Completion of the project would bring a huge relief to residents of Harare who have suffered perennial water shortages due to supply under-capacity by the city council.

This has forced most residents to either drill boreholes or wells in their yards for alternative water supplies. “We have reached a stage where we can now sign an MOU (on Kunzvi dam construction with Sino-Hydro),” Muchinguri-Kashiri said.

The minister is here accompanying President Mugabe to the UN Climate Summit where a global agreement to tackle climate change was signed yesterday. — New Ziana.