Delish Nguwaya, the director of Geo-Pomona Waste Management (Pvt) Ltd, has expressed frustration over the criticism directed at the waste-energy project, which has faced condemnation from the Harare city council and civil society organizations, labeling it as “scandalous.”
Geo Pomona, established in 2022 following a US$350 million waste-to-energy deal secured by Netherlands-registered waste management firm Geogenix BV, has been embroiled in controversy with city stakeholders.
Geogenix BV, owned by Albanian businessman Mirel Mèrtiri, is known for controversial waste management deals. Delish Nguwaya, the local representative of the company, is closely associated with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s family.
Addressing journalists during a tour of the contentious dump site formerly owned by the city of Harare, Nguwaya defended the project, emphasizing its contribution to employment creation in the area.
“We have undertaken all the construction to transform this into a habitable and refreshing space within a dump site. This is the essence of Geo Pomona’s mission—to give back to the community by creating a world-class waste management facility,” he stated.
The site now boasts a football field and two basketball courts, with Nguwaya asserting that the football pitch is “FIFA certified” and suitable for national team use.
Additionally, plans are underway to construct a sorting plant and landfills for various types of waste as part of the ongoing project, expected to be completed by 2025.
Nguwaya highlighted the project’s positive impact on environmental conditions, citing the reduction in air pollution and elimination of foul odors compared to the site’s previous state under city management.
“The stadium meets international standards. The waste you see here is the same as before, but now there are no stench smells,” he remarked.
Upon completion, the project aims to generate 22 megawatts of electricity to be integrated into the national grid.
Recent reports indicated that Geo Pomona Waste intends to charge the city of Harare US$123 for waste collection, a move criticized by the Community Water Alliance as unreasonable given the raw material nature of waste for Geo Pomona’s operations.
Nguwaya responded to criticisms from Community Water Alliance founder Hardlife Mudzingwa, accusing him of being influenced by individuals who fail to recognize the project’s developmental significance.
“We have a mutually beneficial agreement with the city of Harare, and we face no challenges. Hardlife is misinformed about our contract and is unfairly exploiting residents,” Nguwaya asserted.
