Government has been urged to take stronger action against uncontrolled vending in urban areas, amid concerns that daytime clean-up efforts are being undone by nighttime waste accumulation.
Appearing before the Parliamentary Thematic Committee on Climate Change, yesterday, Delish Nguwaya, Executive Chairman of Geo Pomona Waste Management, said enforcement was key to restoring order in cities.
“Government needs to take decisive action against vendors. We clean during the day, but if you check at night, the whole town becomes a menace. Something really has to be done,” he said.
Nguwaya said poor compliance was undermining waste management efforts, warning that sanitation gains were being reversed after hours.
“The challenge is not just cleaning, it is what happens after cleaning. At night, waste is being generated and dumped everywhere, and it reverses the progress we make during the day,” he said.
He told the committee that sustainable urban cleanliness required strict enforcement alongside infrastructure development.
“You cannot talk about waste management without talking about discipline and enforcement. There has to be order in how people use urban spaces,” he said.
The committee session focused on Zimbabwe’s waste management systems and their alignment with the Environmental Management Act and the National Waste Management Strategy.
Members were informed that the City of Harare entered into a 30-year Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) agreement with Geo Pomona Waste Management for the upgrading of waste services.
“We are operating under a 30-year BOOT arrangement with the City of Harare, which gives us responsibility to modernise waste management systems,” he said.
Nguwaya also confirmed that the former Pomona dumpsite was officially handed over on 28 April 2022.
“The Pomona site was handed over to us on 28 April 2022, and we are transforming it into a structured waste management facility,” he said.
The project has been granted National Project Status, which officials say reflects its strategic importance to environmental sustainability.
“This is a national project because waste management is no longer just a city issue—it is a climate and environmental issue,” he said.
The initiative aims to convert the former dumpsite into a modern facility serving Harare, improving disposal systems and reducing illegal dumping.
“We are moving towards a modern, integrated waste management system that meets environmental standards and supports climate resilience,” he said.
Committee members said the hearing underscored the need for stronger coordination between authorities to address urban waste challenges.
