President Mnangagwa has praised Geo Pomona Waste Management's innovative approach to waste management and community development, saying the company's scope and pace of development offer a blueprint for improving service delivery and community outcomes. He has urged local authorities to adopt the company's pioneering model, adding that Geo Pomona's chief executive officer and executive chairman Dr Dilesh Nguwaya should be honoured and awarded for a job well done in transforming the former eyesore.

Speaking at a luncheon held at the company's new state-of-the-art The Sprout restaurant in Harare, President Mnangagwa said: "The successful construction of this restaurant, in particular, speaks volumes about Geo-Pomona as a trailblazing company, unafraid to venture into hitherto uncharted waters."

"The facelift and infrastructure constructed here stand as an example of our national development philosophy: Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatigwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe, likhu-le-ke-lwe ngabanikazi balo. Well done," he added.

"I look forward to witnessing broader inclusivity in all these initiatives, such that other local authorities benefit from the model we are witnessing," President Mnangagwa said, calling on municipalities to tap into Geo Pomona's approach.

The President commended the infrastructure constructed and new business models established in the Pomona Industrial Development Corridor, saying they were testament to the confidence investors have in Zimbabwe. "The infrastructure constructed and new businesses established in these environs since the Second Republic are testament of the confidence that investors have in our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe," he said.

Geo Pomona has created over 1,200 jobs, with the President urging the company to continue employing people from surrounding communities. "Geo Pomona has risen from employing six people in 2022 to 1 200 employees presently. Well done. I urge you to continue with the culture of employing people from the surrounding communities," he said.

President Mnangagwa said developments at the facility fit seamlessly within the broader objectives outlined in the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030. "Ndakataura kuti nzvimbo ino yakanakisa kuti unogona kuwuya nemudikani wako, muchidya machips. Nhasi tiripano kuzodya pa restaurant yakanaka kuti heki. Maona ka, kuti isu vadhara tinenge taona zvirimberisa," he said.

"I am encouraged with both the scope and pace of development which is evident here," President Mnangagwa said. "The efforts you are making to transform this site through ground breaking innovations and economic activities are applauded. Congratulations, makorokoto, amhlophe."

The President challenged players in the hospitality and food sectors to deliberately source materials from local farmers. "Additionally, following my Government’s modernisation and reconstruction of roads across cities and towns, I urge all stakeholders to ensure that the modern ambience in these respective areas is maintained. This should include the construction of suitable public transport sheds at designated stopping points, for road users. Equally, the efficient flow of traffic should be maintained and bottlenecks avoided," he said.

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi said Geo Pomona's initiative would inspire domestic tourism, adding that such projects were in tandem with Zimbabwe's vision of achieving upper-middle-class economic status by 2030. "The long term growth of tourism is in our communities. Here is an example of this transformation, a place that used to be a dumpsite now transformed into a recreational facility for tourism," she said.

Geo Pomona Waste Management chief executive officer and executive chairman Dr Dilesh Nguwaya said the restaurant marked a significant milestone in the development of the envisaged waste-to-energy plant. "This demonstrates our commitment to sustainable waste solutions, environmental protection and promotion of public health," he said.

The lunch was attended by Cabinet ministers, their deputies, permanent secretaries, tourism and hospitality sector players and other senior Government officials.