The study was carried out to analyse the potential use of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in
water infrastructural development in Harare City Council, Zimbabwe. PPPs play a pivotal
role in water infrastructural development if fully implemented. Zimbabwe‘s rate of uptake
is low. There are preconditions that are necessary for successful implementation of PPPs
inter alia political will (commitment) legal, institutional and political frameworks. Key
informant interviews and documentary search were employed to gather data. The study
established that Zimbabwe does not have the preconditions necessary for successful
implementation of PPPs and this confirms the thesis. The main challenges include lack of
legal and institutional framework, lack of political will, unconducive socio-economic
environment. Zimbabwe‘s water infrastructure is ramshackle. This is compounded by lack
of fiscal space on the part of government to rehabilitate the infrastructure. PPPs could be a
viable alternative to infrastructural development with the right environmental conditions.