dyton mupawaenda
Blessings Chidakwa-Herald Reporter
A bellowing smoke and chemical gases are all that engulfed the northern suburbs of Harare on August 18, 2020. They were emanating from Pomona Dumpiste in the area.
It was on a Monday to be specific, as flies and maggots enjoyed themselves as usual, while a raging fire for the umpteenth time served as a reminder of despair for Harare dwellers.
Livelihoods were at stake, with people that eke out a living through collecting garbage for recycling being affected.
Of course, they had easy access into the dumpsite due to poor perimeters at the premises.
What boggled the mind was that no one at the City of Harare, which managed the dumpiste then, seemed to have been taken aback by the fires which had become a perennial case each year.
It was only a matter of when the next fires would consume the dumpsite.
The new weighbridge at Pomona waste management site.
A lasting solution was probably the last thing on Harare City Council officials’ minds.
Apart from the fires, failure to properly treat solid waste was an issue which often contributed to flooding, air pollution and public health issues such as respiratory ailments, diarrhoea and dengue fever.
Once a thorn in the flesh, Pomona Dumpsite is now a marvel for the City of Harare.
Talk of the once raging fires, stench and vagrants are now all a thing of the past, thanks to Geo Pomona Waste Management Private Limited.
All those who once questioned the company’s capacity have not only been left with an egg on their faces, but envy as well.
Geo Pomona Waste Management signed an agreement with City of Harare to have full rights, dominion and control over the dumpsite for a period of 30 years from April 28, 2022.
With only a year at the helm, the once unsightly Pomona dumpsite is now a modern waste management site which equally competes with some of the best dump management sites in Africa, if not the world.
As one approaches the waste management site, the eyes are treated to an attention-grabbing palisade fence and eloquent offices which may force one to easily forget that it is a dumpsite.
Only after noticing a weighbridge and several garbage trucks making turns in and out, manoeuvring a tarred road inside the site area, it is only when one knows there is a waste management site.
Inside, it boasts of recreational areas for basketball courts, tennis courts, parking lots and a soccer field which is now above 75 percent complete.
In line with the Second Republic’s thrust of job creation, those who used to pick up garbage have now been formally employed and are leading a decent life.
The project has so far created employment for at least 188 people, moving a gear up with landscaping for a 25 000 square metre area and road tarring already done, while landfill encapsulation is on schedule.
Breaking away from the traditional ways of disposing garbage, the Geo Pomona Company plan is completely connected with the Government’s objective of establishing smart cities across the country.
Among other objectives, the company is aiming to transform the waste management site into a modern recycling plant which will generate up to 22 megawatts of electricity from methane generated from rotting waste.
The smile on one of those who used to pick up garbage at the site is refreshing.
Bitumen World contractors tarring at Pomona waste management site.
The person, who preferred to be anonymous, was clear evidence of the transformation, not only of the once dumpsite, but personal life.
“I used to engage in a cat and mouse chase with the law enforcement agents. When push came to shove bribing my way inside so that I would collect my recyclable items,” he said. “When Geo Pomona came, I, just like my colleagues, was hesitant, uncertain of the future, but now it is a different issue altogether. Our lives have changed.
“I am now fully employed and receive my salaries every month, which is enough to cater for the upkeep of my family.”
Geo Pomona Waste Management company chief executive and executive chairman Mr Dilesh Nguwaya said the project was moving according to the initial plan.
Mr Dilesh Nguwaya
“The project is in its second year and targets that have been set are being met, with the following having been achieved,” he said.
“The weighbridge was installed in February 2023. Trucks coming on site to dispose of waste go through the weighbridge and weights are recorded.
“Details of types of waste, where the waste is coming from, weight of the waste, company disposing of waste, name of driver, truck registration details and time are recorded.”
Mr Nguwaya said there was also a sharp increase in staff complement.
“I am happy to share that this project has seen us create employment, there is a 208 percent increase in staff complement from 61 personnel in January 2023 to 188 personnel in September 2023,” he said.
“Geo Pomona currently employs 113 staff members, whilst 75 are contractors working on site.”
Speaking on the sidelines of a recent tour at the waste management site, Local Government and Public Works Minister Winston Chitando said the Geo Pomona Company plan was completely connected with the Government’s objective of establishing smart cities across the country.
“So, this is very impressive from what I have seen and when we talk of Vision 2030, it has so many anchors but one of the anchors for all cities is good waste management,” Minister Chitando said.
“There is now a huge difference, it used to be smelly, fires burning and it was chaotic. Where we are standing, we do have a recreational facility, soccer fields, basketball, tennis courts and also a restaurant for families to come for an outing.”
Online Reporter