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Blessings Chidakwa Municipal Correspondent

Norton Town Council has clinched a $25 million deal for the construction of a 40-megalitre water treatment plant that is expected to address perennial water problems in the town.

Ironically, Norton is situated between two major water bodies — Darwendale Dam and Lake Chivero — but has not developed capacity to pump, treat its own water and has been relying on supplies from the Harare City Council.

The move will come as a relief to Harare that has also been battling to supply the precious liquid to its own residents and its satellite towns of Chitungwiza, Epworth and Ruwa.

Council secretary Mr Kizito Muhomba on Tuesday said the contractor was expected on site in less than two months. “We have flighted notices for expression of interest for public private partnerships to fund construction of a 40-megalitre water treatment plant and I am happy to say that the first phase is in the pipeline as the contract has been signed.

“We have been able to attract a financial partner and we hope that they are going to be on site within the next two months or so,” he said.

In terms of cost, Mr Muhomba said the deal was worth $25 million. The is one of the biggest deals that the town has clinched since 2015 when it entered into a $700 000 partnership deal with a German company to ease its water crisis, but this never materialised.