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Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
The Kingdom of Eswatini has expressed keen interest in replicating the Geo Pomona Waste to Energy Project model in their country to tackle waste management challenges.
Eswatini’s Prime Minister Russel Mmiso Dlamini, who was in the country for the Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, said this yesterday after touring the Geo Pomona Waste to Energy Project in Harare.
Mr Dlamini was accompanied by his country’s Foreign Affairs Minister Pholile Paulette Dlamini Shakantu.
The Minister of Skills, Audit and Development, Honourable Professor Paul Mavhima, and Geo Pomona Waste Management chief executive officer and executive chairman, Dr Nguwaya, led the delegation.
“I would like to appreciate the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe and also the management of GeoPomona for allowing us to come and see the great work that has been done here. So, we really have been impressed with what has been done here,” Prime Minister Dlamini said.
Prime Minister Dlamini also described Geo Pomona as a visionary concept, saying his country was looking forward to tap into the model.
“And certainly, we came here to look at this because cities around the world have the same problems of waste. And if there is any innovative way of managing our waste, then we also want it back in the Kingdom of Eswatini. ”
The delegation was also impressed by the sporting and other recreational facilities at Geo Pomona dump site.
The innovative solid waste management model has been attracting attention from various high-profile leaders with the visiting SADC delegation taking turns to visit the dump site.
The EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe Jobst von Kirchmann also toured the site yesterday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the tour, Ambassador Kirchmann said he was impressed by the ongoing works at the GeoPomona Waste to Energy Project.
“I was really impressed because, as you said, this was a dump site and, you had squatters here; you had people who were collecting waste somewhere informally.
“And without having visited it, just looking at it, it looks so different. Transforming a former waste dump site into something so modern, including plans for waste-to-energy creation, is impressive.”
He was also excited to learn that the site will soon be generating up to 22 megawatts of electricity from methane generated from rotting waste
“It’s an enormous amount of electricity, which can be fed into the great recreation facilities.”
Ambassador Kirchmann was also glad to learn that some of the state-of-the-art equipment installed at the site were bought from EU countries saying it speaks volumes about Zimbabwe’s re-engagement efforts.
Dr Nguwaya said there was no doubt that Geo Pomona Waste Management was attracting world attention.
“As you can see, we have had the EU Ambassador visit us this morning to explore our operations at GeoPomona,” he said. “We also received the Prime Minister of Eswatini, who also came to see what we are doing at Geo Pomona.
“We also received the Principal Secretary for Lesotho’s (Ministry of Finance and Development Planning) yesterday, who came to see what we are doing at GeoPomona This means that Geo Pomona is doing great in terms of waste management.
Online Reporter