Coltart refuses to sell out to Geo Pomona

Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart has insisted that any proposed waste-management partnership with Geo Pomona must be affordable to residents, as the city intensifies scrutiny of the company's financial and contractual terms before committing to an agreement.

Coltart made the remarks on Wednesday after leading a council delegation on a tour of Geo Pomona's waste-management facility in Harare, where officials inspected waste sorting, landfilling and leachate treatment operations.

The delegation included Deputy Mayor Edwin Ndlovu, Town Clerk Christopher Dube, councillors and senior council officials.

Although Coltart acknowledged the potential benefits of introducing similar waste-management capacity in Bulawayo, he said the financial implications remained the biggest consideration.

"The critical thing for us, though, is what will it cost, and is it affordable for us?" he said.

He emphasised that the city was not opposed to working with Geo Pomona but would not sign an agreement without understanding the precise terms and how the proposed arrangement would be funded.

Council technical teams have already assessed the company's operations, with the next stage involving a detailed financial analysis.

Geo Pomona is among three companies shortlisted through a procurement process initiated by Bulawayo City Council in 2025. A pre-feasibility study was subsequently submitted to the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency.

The process is unfolding against the backdrop of a September directive by Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe, reflecting a Cabinet decision, instructing Bulawayo to engage Geo Pomona to address challenges at the city's overwhelmed Richmond Landfill, commonly known as Ngozi Mine.

The 30-hectare landfill, which opened in 1994, has exceeded its intended lifespan and continues to experience fires, gas emissions and other environmental and public-health concerns.

However, Coltart has maintained that any partnership must comply with Zimbabwe's procurement laws and protect residents' interests.

He has previously argued that Bulawayo's waste collection system remains relatively functional, with the city's more pressing requirements centred on waste separation, processing and disposal.

Geo Pomona's existing Harare arrangement has reportedly targeted the processing of approximately 650 tonnes of waste daily at US$40 per tonne, translating to an estimated annual cost of nearly US$9 million.

However, these figures do not establish what a potential Bulawayo agreement would cost.

The company's proposed waste-to-energy plant is also still at the planning stage and is not yet operational.

Meanwhile, residents' associations and civic organisations have called for transparency regarding the proposed costs, implementation timelines and competitive bidding process before council enters into any agreement.

Informal waste pickers who depend on activities at Ngozi Mine have also expressed concerns about the potential impact of changes to landfill operations on their livelihoods.

No agreement has been signed and no new cost figures have been announced following Wednesday's tour.

Council is expected to consider the findings of its financial assessment before deciding whether to proceed with further negotiations or prepare a draft memorandum of understanding.