Bongani Ndlovu, [email protected]
ZIMBABWEAN waste management company Geo Pomona has taken its expertise beyond the country’s borders, with a technical delegation led by its chief executive officer, Dr Dilesh Nguwaya, assessing waste management operations in Francistown, Botswana, as the two countries explore possible areas of cooperation.
The delegation, which included engineers and technical specialists, visited the city on Thursday following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Geo Pomona and Botswana’s Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs in Gaborone on October 8.
Dr Nguwaya, who is also Executive Chairman of Geo Pomona and Special Adviser to President Mnangagwa on Waste Management and Environmental Sustainability, said the visit was aimed at establishing how the company could share its experience and technical expertise in addressing waste management challenges in the neighbouring country.
He said the assessment was an important step towards translating the cooperation agreement into practical interventions.
“We spoke about turning a shared regional challenge into a shared opportunity. Our task now is to give that ambition practical direction,” said Dr Nguwaya.
The team was welcomed by Francistown Mayor Councillor Gaone Majere, representatives of the city council, the Acting Town Clerk, Chief Public Health Officer and officials from Botswana’s Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs.
Dr Nguwaya said Zimbabwe had the expertise to contribute towards addressing environmental challenges across the continent, adding that African countries should take the lead in developing solutions to their own problems.
“African problems must be solved by African people. We have the skills and expertise within Africa to address our own challenges,” he said.
He said Geo Pomona had demonstrated the potential of local expertise through the transformation of the former Pomona dumpsite in Harare into a modern waste management facility.
The facility has engineered landfills, a waste sorting plant, water treatment infrastructure, weighbridges and recreational amenities.
Dr Nguwaya said the company had collected more than 620 000 tonnes of waste since February 2025 and employed more than 1 500 people.
He said the company was also pursuing waste-to-energy initiatives, which would see waste being used to generate electricity.
“Landfills everywhere are a challenge. We need properly engineered landfills that protect the environment and help address climate change,” he said.
The Francistown assessment comes as the city seeks to improve operations at its landfill, which also serves surrounding communities and neighbouring towns.
Mayor Majere said the city wanted to position itself at the forefront of waste management innovation in Botswana, with the intention of developing a model that could be adopted by other local authorities.
“We always want to be at the forefront of giving direction to other councils in Botswana,” he said.
He identified uncontrolled scavenging, recurring landfill fires and equipment breakdowns as some of the major challenges confronting the city.
The mayor said people who scavenged at the landfill depended on the activity for their livelihoods, but the practice exposed them and surrounding communities to health risks.
He expressed hope that Geo Pomona would provide recommendations on how the city could modernise its landfill and make better use of accumulated waste.
The city’s Chief Public Health Officer told the delegation that waste recovery had improved from 2,8 percent in the 2023/24 financial year to 10,7 percent in 2024/25, against a target of between 10 and 12 percent.
Four companies and nine individuals are involved in waste recovery activities, collecting materials such as scrap metal, plastic bottles, tins, textiles and electronic components.
However, the accumulation of waste tyres remains a major concern, with limited sustainable recovery options available.
Representing Botswana’s Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Ms Iye Moakofi said the engagement was guided by the principle of Batho Pele, meaning People First.
She said the MoU provided a framework for feasibility studies, capacity building, technical learning and information sharing between the two parties.
The agreement does not constitute a project award or operating contract, with the current engagement remaining at an exploratory and assessment stage.
The Francistown visit is the latest in a series of engagements between Geo Pomona and Botswana dating back to 2024.
Botswana President Duma Boko toured the company’s Harare facility in April this year, followed by a visit by Vice-President Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe in July.
In September, Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs Ketlhalefile Motshegwa and Mayor Majere also toured the facility.
Geo Pomona has also signed cooperation agreements with Zoomlion Ghana Limited, the Malagasy State and Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Skills Audit and Development.
Dr Nguwaya said the company was engaging other African countries, including Namibia, where an MoU was being considered, while another agreement was being prepared with Kenya.
He said Zimbabwe was open to sharing its expertise with other countries as part of efforts to promote African-led development.
“Zimbabwe is open for business, and we have brought our skills from Zimbabwe to Botswana.
Zimbabwe is also open to sharing its expertise and ideas with other countries,” he said.
