By Masimba Makwembere makwemberemv@dailynews.com
MADAGASCAR President Andry Rajoelina, impressed by the Geo Pomona Waste Management project, has invited its senior officials to his country to explore ways of replicating the scheme.
Geo Pomona chief executive Delish Nguwaya confirmed yesterday that he was in Antananarivo with his top executives at the pleasure of Rajoelina.
“Impressed by the modern and unique waste management project being implemented by Geo Pomona Waste Management Company in Harare at the recently-held 44th edition of the Sadc Summit, Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina has invited Geo Pomona Management for a learning and fact finding mission visit to his country to establish ways of replicating the same and provide solutions to the scourge of waste management in his country, specifically the capital city of Antananarivo,” Nguwaya told the Daily News yesterday.
“The visit entails touring several waste dump sites in the city — Antananarivo — and also meeting various officials from different government departments, including the ministry of Environment and Sustainability Development as well as the ministry of Energy and Hydrocarbons.
“The visit to Madagascar by Geo Pomona marks an important spin off from the recently-held 44th Sadc Summit with President Emmerson Mnangagwa assuming the chairmanship of the regional bloc while at the same time harnessing the region’s industrialisation agenda and in this particular case with Geo Pomona offering long-term solutions to waste management and energy generation in the region.”
Several Sadc leaders visited the waste-to-energy project when the regional body held its summit in Harare last month.
Speaking during the visit, Mnangagwa implored the presidents to replicate the development in their countries and be able to manage waste.
“This plant is a demonstration of the vast potential of strategic innovations in resolving our day-to-day community and national economic questions, such as power supplies.
“This project further dovetails with our theme promoting innovation to unlock opportunities for sustainable economic growth and development, towards an industrialised Sadc.
“This waste-to-energy initiative has not only addressed the environmental challenges that were caused by this dumpsite, but the plant, once completed, will generate electricity for the national grid,” Mnangagwa said.