IN 1997, GWERU municipality began working towards a public-private partnership for water and sanitation services throughout the municipal area. A methodical and well-informed approach was adopted, drawing on international expertise when skill gaps within the municipality were identified. In 1999, SAUR UK was selected to work towards a concession and it carried out detailed feasibility studies in the city, raising a selection of issues for further discussion. Despite the textbook approach adopted, negotiation has been stalled, partly as a result of the macroeconomic and political climate in Zimbabwe. This case study, however, emphasizes the positive way in which capacity problems were tackled and local stakeholders were engaged in the process.