Chinese enterprises to help end Zimbabwe's chronic water problems

China has stepped up again to help Zimbabwe in a moment of need. This is after the Harare City Council last week approved four Chinese companies to implement over $1 million worth of critical water and wastewater works intended to end the capital city's water crisis.

The four companies - China Gezhouba Group Co or CGGC, China Geo-Engineering Co (CGEC), Sino-Hydro, and China Machinery and Engineering Co or CMEC - will carry out the works through a loan facility totaling more than $860 million that is guaranteed by the government of Zimbabwe.

Under the deal, SinoHydro will fund and construct the Lyndhurst sewage treatment plant and expand the Crowborough sewage at a cost of $237 million. CGGC on the other hand, will fund water distribution network rehabilitation in 11 high density suburbs for $351 million.