Harare residents are unknowingly financing a US$2.7 million monthly waste management bill under a murky contract riddled with loopholes, lax oversight, and questionable political entanglements.
Despite public outcry, poor service delivery, and glaring contractual red flags, the deal continues to bleed city funds, raising alarm over governance failures.
At the heart of the issue lies a tripartite agreement signed in November 2024 by the City of Harare, the Ministry of Local Government, and Geo Pomona Waste Management. The 31-page contract, never subjected to public scrutiny before being leaked, sets the stage for a minimum five-year financial commitment amounting to US$162 million—money drawn from ratepayers without their informed consent.
While the contract initially positions the Ministry of Local Government as the primary authority, closer inspection reveals a different reality. Clause 23 obliges the Harare City Council to bill residents, surrender its financial records to the ministry, and ensure uninterrupted payments to Geo Pomona—regardless of the firm’s performance.
This financial structure enables the central government to publicly distance itself from liability while retaining behind-the-scenes control. It also prevents residents from challenging the arrangement directly, creating a democratic deficit in a matter that affects their daily lives.
The primary beneficiary of this arrangement, Geo Pomona, is chaired by Dilesh Nguwaya—an individual with deep ties to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and a checkered past involving a US$60 million COVID-19 procurement scandal. Although cleared by the courts, his firm’s return to public contracting has reignited concern, especially since no public tender preceded the awarding of the waste management contract.
Compounding those concerns is Geo Pomona’s parent company, Geogenix BV, which is registered in the Netherlands and linked to Albanian businessman Mirel Mertiri, currently facing corruption charges in his home country over similar incineration deals. A previous iteration of this deal with Geogenix BV was scrapped in 2022 due to cost concerns—only to reappear later with increased financial commitments and expanded scope.
Despite promises of sweeping improvements to Harare’s waste management, Geo Pomona began operations months behind schedule and remains ill-equipped. As recently as six months after the deal was signed, the company’s website acknowledged that it was still awaiting delivery of essential refuse trucks.
Yet, per the contract’s terms, Geo Pomona continues to receive full monthly payments—regardless of whether the agreed services are rendered. This loophole, enshrined in the agreement, effectively eliminates any performance-based accountability.
Further complicating the matter is Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume’s dramatic policy reversal. Once an outspoken opponent of the deal, Mafume inexplicably endorsed the revamped contract in late 2024, shortly after returning to office amidst internal opposition party struggles. Reports from within the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) allege that Mafume may have received a US$200,000 monthly kickback to sign the agreement—a claim he denies.
The shift coincided with the rise of a CCC faction led by Sengezo Tshabangu, whose alignment with the ruling ZANU PF has drawn criticism and intensified speculation about political interference in municipal decisions.
In neighborhoods like Mbare, Kuwadzana, and Highfields, residents report little to no visible improvement in waste collection services. Community watchdogs claim the only substantial effort occurred in February 2025—likely a publicity maneuver—while illegal dumping, burning of trash, and health hazards have persisted.
Despite this, Geo Pomona has announced intentions to replicate its model in other provinces, buoyed by a recent state visit to Belarus during which Nguwaya signed a deal to import waste trucks. The move has stirred fears of a nationwide rollout of a flawed system.
The Harare Residents Trust has labeled the agreement a textbook case of “cartel economics,” citing how the contractual terms prioritize guaranteed payouts over service delivery or fiscal responsibility.
“The structure is built to reward private interests using public money, with no regard for transparency or outcomes,” said Precious Shumba, the Trust’s director. “We’re not just looking at a bad deal—we’re seeing a systemic failure.”
What was meant to address Harare’s waste crisis has instead entrenched it further. With little recourse and minimal transparency, residents are trapped in a deal that transfers both the financial burden and the consequences of failure onto their shoulders.
As garbage continues to pile up, one thing is clear: it’s not just the city’s streets being dirtied—it’s the integrity of its public institutions.
