By Regina Pasipanodya When Geo Pomona Waste Management took over Harare’s largest landfill in 2022, the backlash was swift and unforgiving. Critics called the deal opaque, unsustainable, and exploitative. Headlines questioned the logic of paying for waste disposal, and civic groups demanded transparency. But three years later, the once-derided dumpsite has become a symbol of urban renewal and a case study in how public-private partnerships can weather political storms to deliver tangible change. “We faced a lot of challenges,” recalls Dr. Dilesh Nguwaya, Chairman and CEO of Geo Pomona Waste Management. “The media asked, ‘How can someone come and pay for waste?’ They didn’t know that a transformation was coming in the form of waste management.” A Contract Under Fire The concession agreement between Geo Pomona and the City of Harare was signed in 2022, granting the company rights to manage the Pomona landfill and oversee citywide waste collection. The deal immediately drew criticism from many people who argued that the financial terms were unclear and that Harare residents were being forced to subsidize a private entity. The controversy intensified as reports surfaced of monthly payments exceeding US$22,000, regardless of the volume of waste delivered. Accusations of political favouritism and lack of consultation dominated public discourse, casting a shadow over the project’s legitimacy. Clearing the Waste—and the Doubts Despite the uproar, Geo Pomona pressed forward. Watch the full video here… The company cleared over 200,000 tonnes of illegal waste, built access roads, and transformed the site into a 24-hour operational facility. It launched a door-to-door collection service, removing 30,000 tonnes of household waste across Harare’s suburbs. “Before, the Pomona dumpsite was not safe. There were no roads. It was home to over 1,000 squatters,” said Dr. Nguwaya. “Now, some of those people are employed by us as waste pickers. We’ve turned a dump into a livable place.” The company also procured its own fleet of refuse trucks and began servicing areas previously neglected by municipal services. Residents in Mbare, Warren Park, and Dzivarasekwa began to notice cleaner streets and more reliable waste collection. Innovation Amid Controversy Geo Pomona’s most ambitious move was the construction of a waste-to-energy plant, the first of its kind in Southern Africa. The facility is designed to convert solid waste into electricity, reducing landfill dependency and contributing to Zimbabwe’s energy mix. Complementing this is the region’s largest sorting plant, employing 150 workers to segregate recyclables and hazardous materials. “Last year, we hosted the Heads of State for SADC,” said Dr. Nguwaya. “They came to a place that used to be a dump site. Now it’s a waste management facility that shows how Zimbabwe properly manages waste.” Job Creation and Economic Impact Geo Pomona has already employed over 400 workers, with plans to expand to 600 following the arrival of new trucks from China. The company’s operations have created jobs in logistics, recycling, and facility maintenance—offering a lifeline to communities once marginalized by the very waste they lived among. Looking Ahead While criticism has not entirely faded, the physical transformation of Pomona is hard to ignore. What was once a toxic wasteland is now a functioning industrial site with regional recognition. Geo Pomona’s journey is a reminder that reform often begins in the rubble—and that even the most controversial deals can deliver public value when paired with accountability, innovation, and persistence. Post navigation ZRP SUPERIORITY ESTABLISHED AS ARMED ROBBER IS DISPATCHED TO ETERNAL REST IN CHEGUTU.