The total project cost is US$29,651 million and will be implemented over 18 months.

The United Nations has confirmed the project and says it should benefit about 4,2 million people.

The UN said: "A new urgent Water Supply and Sanitation Rehabilitation Project prepared by the African Development Bank and to be financed under the Multi-Donor Trust Fund is about to start.

"The project, when completed, will provide urgent support for further restoration and stabilisation of water supply and sanitation services in six urban areas including Harare, Chitungwiza, Mutare, Masvingo, Kwekwe and Chegutu (serving an estimated population of 4,15 million). The total project cost is $29,651 million and will be implemented over 18 months."

The Multi-Donor Trust Fund was begun by the Washington-based World Bank.

The UN said the water, sanitation and hygiene services to a large number of clinics and rural communities had been rehabilitated.

"Village-based WASH inventory formats have been developed by the national Coordination Unit with the support of the WASH knowledge and information management task force and preparations to conduct rural water inventory are underway," the UN said in its Report.

"A WASH CAP 2011 data collection tool has been developed jointly by the WASH Cluster and OCHA and has been distributed to partners. This now provides a unified tool for monitoring and reporting progress."

The UN said a survey of clinics that had their WASH systems improved had been done and the data was being analysed for inclusion in the WASH Atlas for 2010/2011.

On the whole an estimated 3,5 million beneficiaries are being provided with improved water and sanitation services in at least 20 urban councils and critical rural small towns and growth points, through emergency rehabilitation interventions.