Zimpapers Logo

Natasha Kokai Herald Reporter
Harare City Council has resolved to bill Zimphos $1,7 million for the water it abstracted from Cleveland Dam from June 2009 to June 2018 and proceeded to do so on a monthly basis.

The amount of water drawn from June 2009 to June 2018 was 2,7 million cubic metres.

Minutes of the recent audit committee say the acting chamber secretary (legal) is to draft a fresh Memorandum of Agreement which is to be entered between the City of Harare and Zimphos pertaining the deal.

“Initially, the MoU which was signed by the city and Zimphos entailed that Zimphos was to rehabilitate and upgrade Cleveland Dam, resuscitate and operate its water treatment plant for a period of five years on a build, operate ad transfer (BOT) basis.

“Council authorised the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with Zimphos which would enable Zimphos to enhance manufacturing operation, through rehabilitation and upgrading of Cleveland Dam to resuscitate and operate the treatment plant works on a BOT basis.

“Due to the urgency of the situation, council authorised Zimphos to commence the rehabilitation even before signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).”

Council later resolved that the acting director of Harare in liaison, with acting chamber secretary engage Zimphos with a view to regularising the BOT.

“The acting finance director, in the meantime, bills Zimphos for the 2,7 million cubic meters abstracted from 2009 to 1st June 2018 and proceed to bill on a monthly basis thereafter.

“The town clerk (Eng Hosiah Chisango) will submit the draft of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to the Environmental Management Committee for its consideration before the signing of the agreement,” read the minutes.

Cleveland Dam was built by the city in 1929 for the supply of potable water to the city. The facility was decommissioned due to lack of capacity in favour of Prince Edward and Morton Jaffray water treatment works.