Who chose Geo Pomona for Bulawayo – and under what law?

Jameson Timba

Bulawayo has a serious problem. The Ngozi Mine dumpsite, also called Richmond Landfill, is burning and producing smoke that is choking residents in Cowdray Park, Emakhandeni and Luveve. People need a clean and quick solution.

But the way Government is now handling it raises big questions.

What happened?

Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe went to Bulawayo and gave the City Council one week to sign an agreement with Geo Pomona Waste Management. He said Government has already decided that Geo Pomona will do the work. There is no need for another competition. edf6

The Minister said Cabinet made the decision and Bulawayo has “no authority whatsoever to resist a Cabinet decision.” He said if Council refuses, central Government will still go ahead. a0ef

This follows President Mnangagwa’s directive to urgently end the Ngozi Mine pollution crisis. 3e62

Why is this a problem? Senator Timba says:

1. It breaks the Constitution. The Constitution, Sections 264, 265 and 276, says we have devolution. Local Government must be allowed to run local affairs on its own. Waste management is a local job. Cabinet can make national policy, but it cannot just choose a private company and force an elected Council to accept it.

2. It breaks procurement rules. Bulawayo had already called for companies to show interest. Several companies applied. That process was stopped because ZIDA said a feasibility study was needed first. Now Government says skip ZIDA and just take Geo Pomona. How can a feasibility study be honest if the contractor is already chosen?

3. Conflict of interest. Dr Dilesh Nguwaya is both Executive Chairman and CEO of Geo Pomona AND Special Advisor to the President on Waste Management. His job as Advisor includes advising on waste policy and public-private partnerships. 73d9

So we must ask:
– Where does the Advisor end and the businessman begin?
– Did Dr Nguwaya advise Cabinet or the President to take the Geo Pomona model to all cities?
– Was he part of the Bulawayo decision?
– Did he declare his business interest and step aside from decisions that benefit his own company?

These are not accusations of corruption. They are questions about transparency and honesty.

It is also worrying that the Minister came to Bulawayo accompanied by the Presidential Advisor whose company was then presented as the company the City must accept.

What Government must do now:

Senator Timba says Government must:
1. Publish the Cabinet decision that chose Geo Pomona for Bulawayo.
2. Show the law that allows Government to force a contractor on Bulawayo.
3. Show the procurement process and how much this will cost the people.
4. Publish any declaration of interest or recusal by the Presidential Advisor.

Saying Geo Pomona is “tried and tested” cannot replace lawful procurement and value for money.

Bulawayo needs Ngozi Mine to be fixed. But residents also deserve constitutional rule, transparency, value for money, and respect for their elected Council.

“Cabinet decided” is not a substitute for the law.

Three simple questions Government must answer:

Who chose Geo Pomona? Under what law? And what safeguards separated the President’s Advisor from the commercial interests of the company he leads?

Senator Jameson Timba, Convenor: DCP