Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart has expressed caution over a proposed waste management deal with Geo Pomona Waste Management, saying the city will not rush into a contract. Coltart made the statement after councillors and senior council officials visited Geo Pomona's waste management site in Harare. The visit was part of ongoing discussions, but Coltart stressed that the city is not close to signing a deal. The mayor emphasized that Bulawayo needs to assess the services offered, their cost, and affordability for residents.
The visit to Geo Pomona's site was to evaluate the company's ability to sort and process waste. Coltart said Geo Pomona demonstrated its capacity to sort waste, but Bulawayo still needs to examine the proposed services and their financial implications. The company has a sorting plant that can process up to 1,080 tonnes of waste a day, but its planned waste-to-energy plant is not yet operational. Bulawayo is seeking investment in waste separation and processing to address problems at Richmond Landfill, commonly known as Ngozi Mine.
Coltart said the next stage will be to clarify precisely what Geo Pomona can provide and assess the costs. A technical team has already examined the company's operations, and any agreement will still have to go through the council's legal processes. The mayor emphasized that the city received three compliant bids through a procurement process launched in 2025. The proposed engagement follows a directive from Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe for Bulawayo to engage Geo Pomona over the city's waste management challenges.
Critics have questioned Geo Pomona's political connections, including allegations linking the company to businessman Delish Nguwaya and the First Family. Nehanda Radio Managing Editor Lance Guma warned against what he described as an attempt to export the Harare model to Bulawayo. Guma argued that the Harare agreement gives Geo Pomona control of the city's main dumpsite for 30 years and requires payment of US$40 per tonne of waste, which could amount to US$40,000 a day or US$14.6 million a year.
Guma's analysis raised questions about Nguwaya's business and political connections, including his role as Drax International's representative in Zimbabwe during the 2020 Covid-19 procurement scandal. Nguwaya was arrested in connection with the matter, and his case was later dismissed or set aside by the courts. Guma also cited Nguwaya's 2017 arrest over allegations involving cocaine possession and a High Court judge's criticism of the way police handled that arrest.
Coltart has said any contract would require the full council's approval after consultation with residents. The mayor emphasized that Bulawayo's needs differ from Harare's, as the city has been collecting refuse relatively well and is mainly looking for a way to process and separate it. The city's immediate questions remain what services are being offered, what they will cost residents, and whether the city can afford them.
The allegations and political questions raised by Guma have not been established as proof of wrongdoing by Geo Pomona or the individuals named. For now, Coltart said the city will proceed with caution, ensuring that any agreement is in the best interest of Bulawayo residents. The mayor's insistence on council procedures comes amid concern that Bulawayo could be pressed to adopt an arrangement similar to the one in Harare.
Key points
- Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart says the city will not rush into a contract with Geo Pomona Waste Management.
- The city needs to assess the services offered, their cost, and affordability for residents.
- Critics have questioned Geo Pomona's political connections and the terms of its agreement in Harare.
