Progress at Geo-Pomona waste management facility charms SADC secretariate

Harare- SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi was charmed by the Geo-Pomona waste management model when he visited the site this week as part of his mission to assess the country’s preparedness to host the regional bloc’s summit in August,Express Mail Zim can report.

He acknowleged the fact that waste is a major problem the world over hence the intiative by Geo- Pomona was timeous.

He also said he was delighted that this project was the first in the region and urged African countries to adopt the model.

“I have just been informed that this is perhaps the first facility of its nature in our region. So, this is a benchmark for the region and perhaps even for the continent to come here to do their own benchmarking.

“For SADC countries, this is a basis for all the member States to come and learn from it and manage it. We see this project that is being done by the local government as a potential regional project,” he said.

Mr Magosi said when member States visit Zimbabwe for the SADC Summit, he hopes President Mnangagwa will invite his colleagues to see the Geo-Pomona facility.

“I am sure by the end of the tour, many of them will be motivated enough to consider it for their own countries,” he said.

The US$328 million waste-to-energy project at Pomona dumpsite is one of the biggest projects in the country, which is set to not only improve the management of waste, but also feed into the country’s energy production.

The conversion of waste-to-energy was a much needed aspect in many African countries to cement the idea of industrialisation as well as the promotion of clean energy, Magosi said.

Geo-Pomona chief executive, Dilesh Nguwaya was elated and humbled by the SADC Secretariat’s visit.

“We are very happy with the visit of the SADC (Secretariat) to come here and see what we are doing as Geo-Pomona waste management,” said Nguwaya.