Zimbabwe’s 92 local authorities are set to replicate the waste-management and waste-to-energy model being implemented at Geo Pomona Waste Management, as Government moves to overhaul solid waste management across the country.
The move follows a familiarisation tour of the Geo Pomona Waste Management facility in Harare by representatives from all 92 local authorities on Friday, led by Local Government and Public Works Permanent Secretary Tafadzwa Muguti.
Government is exploring the rollout of the model through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), with Geo Pomona currently identified as the only private-sector partner involved in the model being considered for replication across the country.
The initiative is part of efforts to promote sustainable waste management, improve landfill management and address environmental challenges associated with poorly managed solid waste.
Speaking during the tour, Muguti said local authorities should take lessons from Geo Pomona and ensure their landfill sites are properly managed and fenced.
“You are supposed to be embarrassed that the President has gone to the extent of declaring a state of national disaster on solid waste management because you have to manage,” Muguti said.
“I can promise you all 92 of you will have fenced all your landfills.”
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Muguti said Government expected the President’s directives on waste management to be implemented across the country.
“When the President has spoken, the country moves,” he said.
He added that the Government’s smart-city programme would also extend to the country’s local authorities.
“Smart cities will also come to your cities. What we’re seeing here is what is going to be across all 92 authorities,” Muguti said.
Geo Pomona Waste Management chief executive officer and executive chairman Dilesh Nguwaya, who is also Special Advisor on Waste Management and Environmental Sustainability, said the company had the capacity to provide solutions to the country’s local authorities.
“I’m very happy that as Geo Pomona we have the capacity to make sure that all 92 authorities are going to get a solution to waste management,” Nguwaya said.
The familiarisation visit is expected to give local authorities an opportunity to assess the systems and technologies being used at Geo Pomona as Government works towards developing similar waste-management solutions in other parts of the country.
The Government’s approach places greater emphasis on partnerships with the private sector to address the country’s longstanding solid-waste management challenges, while also seeking to turn waste into a potential source of energy.
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