IN the bustling suburbs of Tafara and Mabvuku, the sight of towering and stretching heaps of urban waste has long been a source of frustration for residents.
Recently, a private company, Bitumen, took on the daunting task of clearing dumpsites, offering a glimmer of hope to a beleaguered community.
However, the relief felt by residents is overshadowed by concerns surrounding the Geo Pomona waste management deal, which some see as a misguided solution to a complex problem.
While the clearing operation has brought temporary respite, the underlying issues of waste management in Harare remain unresolved and deeply contentious.
Residents celebrated the clearing of waste heaps that had marred their neighbourhoods, but their joy was short-lived.
Just days after the operation, new piles of refuse began to accumulate, prompting local leaders to urge residents to take responsibility for their environs.
“We must work together to keep our surroundings clean,” implored ward 20 councillor Mercy Kasvosve in a recent interview.
“The burden of waste management should also rest on residents’ shoulders through exercising household and community responsibility,” she said.
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However, a resident in Tafara, Ruth Chikoko, noted: “The recent clearing operation by a private company should start bringing some improvements in waste clearing and collection, in fact, the waste collection vehicles have no proper working schedule and this has been leaving our neighbourhoods in disarray and as a result waste continue to pile up”.
The Geo Pomona deal, which allows for the collection of 650 tonnes of refuse daily at a cost of US$40 per tonne, has been met with scepticism.
The Harare City Council’s environmental management committee has rejected the Geo Pomona takeover of waste management, citing inadequate planning and a lack of transparency in the whole process.
Residents’ associations and development experts have long argued that the partnership entered into with the Harare City Council disregards their input and needs.
Their voices warn that the deal could exacerbate existing waste management issues rather than resolve them.
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) director Rueben Akili said the road to effective waste management in Harare and its environs was fraught with challenges, more so with the advent of the Geo Pomona deal and there is need to underscore the importance of collaboration and transparency in developing partnerships.
“As CHRA, we have said it before and we are very clear about it and we will continue saying it, that the whole Geo Pomona deal has nothing to do with residents, it's exploitative and unsustainable to the local authority and there is need for co-operation and transparency in the whole deal,” he said in a recent interview.
Clara Mavhunga, an environmental policy expert, weighed in: “Geo Pomona’s operations are shrouded in controversy.
“While the intention to manage waste is commendable, the execution has been flawed. They need to engage with communities to understand their needs and integrate local solutions, especially given the rise in urban farming initiatives that rely on clean environments and contributes to food security.”
The rise in waste piling in residential areas not only poses health risks, but also undermines urban farming efforts.
Many residents have turned to urban agriculture as a means of ensuring food security, but the presence of waste can contaminate soil and discourage local farming initiatives.
“We are trying to feed our families, but how can we do that in the midst of rubbish?” laments farmer and community activist Blessing Zengeya.
“The authorities need to recognise the importance of urban farming and work to create a clean environment.”
Experts point out that the problems surrounding the Geo Pomona deal are compounded by a culture of corruption and mismanagement within local governance.
Civil society has intensified pressure on the Harare City Council to address the persistent waste piling on roadsides, commons and residential fields and should involve local communities.
“The Geo Pomona deal has created breeding ground for corruption,” warns civil rights advocate Farai Kusena.
“Without accountability and transparency, we are merely perpetuating a cycle of neglect and exploitation.”
Indeed, many residents are calling for a complete overhaul of the waste management system.
“We need to confront the powerful interests that benefit from this mismanagement,” Chikoko insists.
“It’s time for residents to unite and demand better services and accountability from our leaders.”
In response to the growing waste crisis, Local Government and Public Works minister Daniel Garwe recently ordered a ban on all vending activities across the central business districts of cities and towns.
He described this measure as a necessary step to contain the proliferation of waste dumpsites and unsanitary conditions.
However, many city dwellers, particularly vendors, view the ban as a misguided policy that fails to address the root causes of waste accumulation.
“Banning vending doesn’t solve the problem; it just pushes it elsewhere,” critiques Zengeya.
“We need a holistic plan that includes all stakeholders.”
“We must engage with the community to develop solutions that work for everyone,” says Mavhunga.
“It’s essential to harness local knowledge and initiatives to create a sustainable waste management system.”
As the Geo Pomona deal continues to unfold, the voices of residents must remain central to the discourse.
The need for accountability, effective waste management and respect for local farming initiatives cannot be overstated.
Harare stands at a crossroads; the decisions made today will shape the health and sustainability of its communities for years to come.
In the face of mounting waste and declining health standards, the call for action is clear: council should prioritise the needs of its residents, engage with civil society and tackle the deep-seated issues of corruption and mismanagement.
Only then can the city hope to pave the way toward a cleaner, healthier future for all its inhabitants.
