Rumbidzai Ngwenya
HARARE City Council sealed a €304 million waste management deal with Nertherlands and Italian investor, Geogenix BV, yesterday.
The signing of the deal paves the way for the commencement of the waste-to-energy Pomona project in the capital, which was recently approved by the Cabinet.
This will see the transfer of the biggest waste facility in Harare into an energy plant that will generate 16 to 22 megawatts.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Harare’s acting mayor, Musarurwa Mutizwa, said the project would not only generate power but also ensure a clean city.
“This state-of-the-art project that we are going to have at Pomona will have a positive impact on Harare’s quest to go green.
“What we are simply doing is to introduce proper integrated waste management which is going to see bio gases being turned into electricity for the benefit of everyone.
“Having dumpsites is now a thing of the past. In this era of modern waste management, we are saying let us use the waste that we have to generate energy,” Mutizwa said.
“So this project of the city council is just an example to other cities that we need to develop and modernise.
“I always tell people that Harare is Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe is Harare, hence our need to lead by example.
“However, we need people who are responsible and take care of their country. Everybody needs to take ownership and be responsible to make this a success,” Mutizwa added.
“All this time we have been going through vigorous negotiations with Geogenix BV so as to come up with a proper document that will lead us into waste management.
“So now all is set and we are ready to start. In 45 days, work will already be seen on the ground,” he said further.
Mutizwa also emphasised that the project was not a government project, but the City of Harare’s.
“Let me make one thing clear. This project is the work of the City of Harare, not the government.
“However, I am pleased to say that the government has agreed to partner us now in this work to make sure that our cities are clean,” he said.
