By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Harare – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has officially commissioned the Geo Pomona Waste Management Sorting Plant and its refuse collection fleet, describing it as a significant step toward a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Zimbabwe.
During the unveiling of the modern facility, President Mnangagwa highlighted the importance of the project, calling it a turning point in the quest towards efficiency in waste management and a symbol of what visionary leadership, strategic partnerships, and national unity can achieve.
As part of the launch, Geo Pomona Waste Management introduced 45 refuse collection trucks and 100 skip bins to help address Harare’s waste crisis. Additional equipment is expected to arrive soon to further improve waste collection services across the city.
“We are not just collecting garbage, we are converting waste into economic opportunity and clean energy,” President Mnangagwa said, praising the facility for supporting Zimbabwe’s waste-to-energy goals.
Once fully operational, the plant is projected to generate between 16 and 22 megawatts of electricity for the national grid.
The President, who earlier officiated at the project’s groundbreaking ceremony in November 2023 and toured the site with fellow SADC Heads of State, emphasized that the project demonstrates investor confidence in Zimbabwe’s improving business environment.
“Public-Private Partnerships, including this one, are a cornerstone of our national development strategy. Projects such as Geo Pomona reflect the potential of private capital, expertise, and innovation in delivering public goods and services,” he stated.
Addressing the ongoing waste management challenges in Harare, Mnangagwa said, “We have seen outbreaks of diseases, a situation that is wholly unacceptable,” adding that such conditions should become a thing of the past.
He urged local authorities and other cities to follow Geo Pomona’s example and prioritize modern waste management systems.
The President also highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of the facility, noting that waste is a resource that can be recovered and repurposed. The plant will recover recyclable materials, support the development of a green, circular economy, and contribute to Zimbabwe’s climate commitments.
“This project is aligned with our climate action commitments and contributes to the building of a green economy,” he explained.
Acknowledging the efforts of Geo Pomona management and staff, Mnangagwa emphasized that success in waste management depends on collective responsibility.
“The responsibility does not lie with Geo Pomona alone, but with every Zimbabwean,” he said.
He called on citizens to stop illegal dumping and adopt responsible waste disposal practices.
“Let us be stewards of our environment, together, we can realise our goal of a clean, safe, and healthy Zimbabwe,” he added.
The commissioning of the Pomona facility supports the government’s broader vision of transforming Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy by 2030, with clean cities and efficient public services as key priorities. It is expected to help in plugging the hole which the Harare City Council has been failing to plug for years now when it comes to refuse collection.