Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo and Harmony Agere
THE time has come for Zimbabwe and Botswana to collaborate, co-create, invest together and learn from each other for the benefit of their peoples, Botswana Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe has said.
Speaking after touring Geo Pomona Waste Management’s facilities in Harare yesterday, VP Gaolathe, who also serves as Botswana’s Minister of Finance, described Zimbabwe and Botswana as “one family” and called for deeper co-operation between the two neighbouring countries.
VP Gaolathe was accompanied by Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Deputy Minister Dr Kudakwashe Mnangagwa and was taken on a guided tour of the facility by Geo Pomona chief executive officer and executive chairman Dr Dilesh Nguwaya.
“Well, I believe that the Zimbabwean people and the people of Botswana are one people and one family,” he said.
“The time has come for us to do things together, to collaborate, to co-create, to co-invest and to learn from each other, not only during good times, but also to be willing to have difficult conversations among ourselves.
“Because it is only when we are willing to have difficult conversations among ourselves that we are able to chart a common path forward.”
VP Gaolathe said he was impressed by what he observed during the tour and congratulated Geo Pomona and Zimbabwe on the project’s achievements.
“But for me, this is testimony that the people of Zimbabwe, the country of Zimbabwe and everything about Zimbabwe have everything needed to realise their full potential.
“It shows what determination and creativity are able to achieve. To see so many Zimbabweans here, both young and old, working and being meaningfully employed is, for me, a source of inspiration.
“So, congratulations to you, Mr CEO. Congratulations to Zimbabwe for this spectacular, spectacular initiative,” said VP Gaolathe.
Deputy Minister Mnangagwa said Government would continue supporting the project, which had been granted national project status because of its strategic importance.
“Our national project status is a designation that we award very sparingly to projects that, as Government, we view as having a significant impact.
“Looking at the Geo Pomona waste management project, if you consider the environmental benefits and the social impact at household level, residents are now seeing refuse being collected, something that had not been witnessed for quite some time.
“It is being taken to a dumpsite that is environmentally friendly, and it will ultimately be converted into energy, which we need for our national grid and as a country.
“So, this is something that, as a ministry and as Government, we have no regrets about awarding national project status, enabling the project to access the necessary incentives to expand and ensure its success,” he said.
Dr Nguwaya reaffirmed Geo Pomona’s commitment to championing sustainable waste management solutions in Zimbabwe and across the Sadc region.
“Southern African countries can work together to solve their own challenges.
“There is a saying that goes, ‘Seeing is believing’, and Geo Pomona is delivering results.
“You can see for yourself the good work being done by Geo Pomona and our collaboration with the Government of Botswana,” he said.
Dr Nguwaya revealed that discussions were underway on a memorandum of understanding for waste management co-operation between Geo Pomona and Botswana.
“Very soon we will move to ensure that we sign our MoU and collaborate to replicate this project in Botswana,” he said.
The proposed partnership is expected to strengthen regional co-operation in sustainable waste management while creating opportunities for knowledge-sharing and investment between the two countries.
