We took over the Pomona dumpsite from the City of Harare in April 2022, and there has been tremendous transformation of the waste management system in the capital.
The project progress has impressed quite a number of notable leaders who visited our site, according to what they have said.
This weekend, SADC Heads of State will also be touring our project but here is what several leaders have said about our work thus far;
His Excellency President Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa
“I am impressed to learn that you are utilising waste to produce electricity. That is brilliant! Keep up the good work. This is the kind of innovation we need to build our country. Fresh ideas with promise. I want you to promise me that Zimbabwe will not experience electricity shortages again.”
First Lady Dr Auxilia Mnangagwa
“This new modern waste management ecosystem is a true testimony of what we can do collectively to conserve our environment.
“Waste management is an area that we have seen the private sector taking a keen interest. A successful example is the recently commissioned Geo Pomona waste-to-energy project in Harare, a first-of-its-kind in Zimbabwe that is expected to enhance the cleanliness of the city while providing electricity to the national grid.”
SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi
“For us, we see it as a regional project and when member states come here; especially Presidents when they come for the SADC Summit in August, they will be motivated to implement such projects in their countries. So, it’s a wonderful facility.
“I think it’s a good initiative; it’s the correct initiative because waste is a major problem the World over. This is the first such a facility of this nature in our region; this is a benchmark for the region. This is a basis for all the member states to come and see how to manage waste.”
UNICEF’s representative Dr Nicholas Alipui
“We saw how almost impossible the road here was, the mountains and heaps of urban waste accumulated over 15 or 20 years before the transformation happened and we have also been able to witness how within two years it was possible to completely transform the situation with a plan to create social amenities. We have seen basketball courts, tennis courts, and a football field that’s certified by FIFA and we have seen construction for the sorting of wastewater treatment and all kinds of other projects.
“Our hope is, with the kind of change we are seeing, it should be possible to replicate this project in other municipalities and cities of the country as well as expand the outreach to other parts of our continent. We have come out to witness firsthand a transformative, absolutely impressive project here in Pomona, where we are seeing how an insurmountable problem of waste management has been transformed into a development project that is of interest to the community and country at large. I think internationally, it’s a best practice that one can highlight for Zimbabwe.”
Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Charles Tavengwa
“The one thing I have seen driving most economies is skills transfer. Currently, we have welcomed more four universities within the country aimed at making sure that students have skills that go beyond an ordinary certificate and also transfer skills between my engineers and students.”
Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry
“We can’t do anything without them; the government is trying to stretch the budget as much as possible, but we need the private players. We are thankful for private companies such as Geo Pomona Waste Management Pvt Ltd for leading the way in doing community development.
“We now have facilities open to the public; I want to say a big thank you from my Ministry (of Sports) to Geo Pomona Waste Management Pvt Ltd because we can’t do everything by ourselves. I am excited that in the space of three months, we have seen the private sector playing a key role in supporting sports.”
