Bulawayo residents reject Geo Pomona directive

BULAWAYO residents and civic organisations have rejected a ministerial directive requiring the City of Bulawayo to finalise a memorandum of agreement with Geo Pomona Waste Management within a week, arguing that the move could undermine due process and public procurement regulations.

The directive followed a visit to the city on September 10 by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, accompanied by representatives from Geo Pomona Waste Management and the United Nations.

The minister directed council to conclude an agreement with Geo Pomona as part of efforts to address environmental and pollution concerns at the Richmond Landfill, commonly known as Ngozi Mine.

In a statement issued under the banner "No to Directives, Yes to Due Process", residents acknowledged the Government's concerns over the environmental problems at the landfill but said urgent action should not come at the expense of transparency and established procurement procedures.

"As residents and stakeholders of the City of Bulawayo we appreciate the Minister's concerns and the need for urgent action regarding the landfill," the organisations said.

"However, as residents we have the following concerns."

They argued that the proposed deal should be subjected to appropriate procurement procedures, saying the city had previously initiated independent competitive processes to address its waste management challenges.

The organisations said the move to finalise an agreement with Geo Pomona without wider public scrutiny risked undermining procurement provisions contained in the Public Finance Management Act and the Urban Councils Act.

"The shadowy deal from Geo Pomona deserves public scrutiny," they said.

They also raised concerns over an alleged conflict of interest involving Geo Pomona chief executive officer Delish Nguwaya, who is also a Presidential Advisor on Waste Management.

The residents said they supported urgent action to address the environmental and public health problems at Ngozi Mine, particularly smoke emissions affecting surrounding communities such as Cowdray Park.

They called on the City of Bulawayo to publish details of measures it has taken to address the health risks in Cowdray Park, following concerns previously raised by residents and the Environmental Management Agency.

The organisations further demanded transparency around previous procurement processes undertaken by council, saying residents should be able to scrutinise the competing proposals and processes that have already been initiated.

Council leadership, including Mayor Councillor David Collars and Town Clerk Christopher Dube, is reportedly reviewing the implications of the directive in terms of the Urban Councils Act and principles of local governance.

The residents said elected representatives should not proceed with signing the proposed agreement until its contents had been made public, subjected to stakeholder scrutiny and assessed against applicable procurement requirements.

They also called for meaningful consultation with residents before any agreement is concluded, particularly regarding the financial implications of waste management arrangements.

The organisations said local businesses already operating at Ngozi Mine should also be considered as part of efforts to develop a sustainable waste management solution.

They cited Treger, which they said had been operating informally at the landfill, arguing that such businesses should be regularised and allowed to participate in competitive bidding processes.

The organisations warned that bypassing consultation and competitive procurement could impose significant social and financial costs on Bulawayo residents.

"Without effective consultation and meaningful participation of the primary stakeholders and residents we urge caution and reject the directive," they said.

They added that several local companies had submitted Expressions of Interest for the city's waste management requirements and claimed residents had developed an alternative approach that could be presented to council and other interested parties.

"We have an organised alternative to Bulawayo's waste management and we are willing to engage the city and all interested parties to present these alternatives," the organisations said.

The statement was endorsed by Ibhetshu LikaZulu, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association, Constitution Defenders Forum, Defend the Constitution Platform, SWITA, Habakkuk Trust, Bulawayo Waste Management Traders Association, Public Policy Research Institute of Zimbabwe, Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Organization, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and Cowdray Park Residents.