By Correspondent
The government has ordered Bulawayo City Council to collaborate with Geo Pomona Private Limited for waste collection services giving Council a seven day ultimatum.
This directive was announced by Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe during a high-level meeting concerning waste management in Bulawayo.
Minister Garwe stated that Cabinet has already approved the partnership, indicating that if the Bulawayo is hesitant, the government will take the reins and implement the agreement.
“Within a week all the paperwork should be ready for signing.
“A clean city is not a luxury. It is a basic requirement for public health, investment and dignity of our people,” Minister Garwe said.
He highlighted the urgent need for effective waste management, citing the ongoing crisis in Bulawayo that has given rise to severe public health risks, including incidents of cholera and recent infestations of bed bugs.
“Such conditions are wholly unacceptable in 2026 and beyond.
“Such conditions must become a thing of the past,” he said.
According to Garwe, the Bulawayo Council has struggled to manage refuse effectively on its own.
“Effective waste management cannot be achieved by the local authority alone, but it takes cooperation and shared responsibility from all clients and stakeholders,” he said.
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He said as one of Zimbabwe’s key urban centers and a hub of economic development, Bulawayo is expected to maintain high standards of cleanliness and efficiency.
However, the decision to bypass the council’s independent search for a waste management partner raises concerns about potential collusion within government.
Previously, the council had been exploring partnerships, and various local companies submitted proposals.
This search was halted after the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) announced the need for a preliminary feasibility study.
Geo Pomona, led by Delish Nguwaya, who has faced speculation about being linked to influential government figures, has now been thrust into a role that could exacerbate fears of corruption.
Despite this, Minister Garwe defended Geo Pomona, citing its successful track record in Harare where it holds a similar contract.
He praised the private sector’s positive response to the government’s Local Content Strategy and cited the Harare project as a model of how private investment, expertise, and innovation can enhance public service delivery.
“The partnership model employed in Harare demonstrates that we can effectively integrate private involvement in waste collection, recycling, and management,” Garwe stated.
He assured that the government would support and oversee Bulawayo’s service delivery efforts, intervening as needed to ensure compliance with Minimum Service Delivery Standards.
“Let’s reclaim our city and work together to restore Bulawayo’s cleanliness,” he urged.
During the meeting, Nguwaya expressed that Geo Pomona was eager to enhance its waste collection services in Bulawayo.
He highlighted the company’s willingness to collaborate with the local authority and other partners to improve waste management efforts and contribute to a cleaner city.
