HARARE – Harare Mayor Advocate Jacob Mafume has congratulated Geo Pomona Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr Dilesh Nguwaya following his appointment by President Emmerson Mnangagwa as Special Advisor on Waste Management and Environmental Sustainability, marking a dramatic turn in a relationship once defined by fierce public clashes over the controversial Pomona waste-to-energy project.
By Advent Shoko
The City of Harare announced the congratulatory message on behalf of Mayor Mafume, councillors, Acting Town Clerk Advocate Warren S. Chiwawa, management and staff.
“His Worship the Mayor, Cllr Jacob Mafume, Councillors, Acting Town Clerk Adv Warren S. Chiwawa, management and staff of the City of Harare congratulate the Chairman and Executive CEO of Geo Pomona, Dr Dilesh Nguwaya, on his appointment as Special Advisor on Waste Management and Environmental Sustainability to His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa.”
The city said its partnership with Geo Pomona had delivered tangible results in refuse collection.
“The City of Harare and Geo Pomona are in partnership for waste collection and under the leadership of Dr Nguwaya, the Company has done so remarkably well that the President saw it worthy to appoint him to this special position.”
It added:
“This prestigious appointment is confirmation of well documented evidence of Dr Nguwaya’s outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to advancing sustainable environmental solutions.”
The statement concluded:
“We wish him all the best as he tackles this key national assignment.”
From fierce opponents to public congratulations
The congratulatory message stands in stark contrast to the bitter standoff between Mafume and Nguwaya during the early days of the Pomona waste-to-energy project in 2022.
At the time, Mafume was among the most vocal opponents of the multi-million-dollar agreement between Harare City Council and Geogenix BV, the Netherlands-based company represented in Zimbabwe by Nguwaya before the project evolved into Geo Pomona.
The agreement, valued at approximately US$344 million, required Harare to pay around US$22,000 per day, about US$8 million annually, for waste disposal at Pomona, with the fees scheduled to increase over time.
Mafume repeatedly insisted Harare would not honour what he described as an unfair contract.
“We stand by our resolutions not to pay this amount. We will not be part of this contrary to public morals contract.”
He later reaffirmed the city’s position, saying:
“We have not climbed down on the Pomona deal. We want our dumpsite back.”
Mafume argued that Harare residents should not shoulder the financial burden of the agreement.
“We do not agree to this contract, and we want the dumpsite back for the residents.”
The dispute escalated into one of Zimbabwe’s biggest local government controversies, drawing in the Ministry of Local Government, Parliament and the courts.
Then Local Government Minister July Moyo directed Harare City Council to rescind some of its resolutions challenging the contract.
Supporters say Geo Pomona transformed refuse collection
Despite the controversy, Geo Pomona continued implementing its waste management programme in partnership with the City of Harare.
City spokesperson Stanley Gama says the improvements are now visible across the capital.
“Today, I’m witness to how Geo Pomona has transformed solid waste management in Harare. Tell me which area is not being collected garbage right now and I’ll inform him and you will see prompt action will be taken.”
He added:
“Congrats Dr Nguwaya on the appointment. You deserve it.”
Geo Pomona also celebrated the appointment.
“This prestigious appointment is a testament to Dr. Nguwaya’s outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to advancing sustainable environmental solutions. We wish him every success in this important national role.”
A businessman no stranger to controversy
Long before the Pomona project dominated headlines, Nguwaya had already become one of Zimbabwe’s most controversial businessmen because of the Drax International COVID-19 procurement scandal.
In 2020, Drax International, represented locally by Nguwaya, secured contracts worth approximately US$60 million to supply COVID-19 medicines, personal protective equipment and other medical supplies to the Ministry of Health and Child Care during the height of the pandemic.
The contracts triggered a national outcry after allegations emerged that procurement procedures had been bypassed and some medical supplies were significantly overpriced.
Former Health Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo was arrested and later dismissed from Cabinet over the procurement process before eventually being acquitted by the High Court after judges ruled the State’s case did not disclose a criminal offence.
Nguwaya was also arrested during the investigations and faced charges linked to the procurement scandal. However, his criminal trial later collapsed.
The scandal became known nationally as “Draxgate” or “COVID-gate”, with critics including journalist Hopewell Chin’ono alleging that millions of dollars intended to fight the pandemic had been improperly handled.
Nguwaya also found himself at the centre of political controversy after reports and photographs linked him to members of President Mnangagwa’s family, particularly the President’s son, Collins Mnangagwa.
The First Family, however, consistently denied having any improper relationship or business involvement with Nguwaya or Drax International, dismissing allegations of influence over government contracts.
Despite those controversies, Nguwaya has since reinvented his public profile around environmental management through Geo Pomona, which now oversees waste collection and the long-term waste-to-energy project at the Pomona dumpsite.
His latest appointment as Special Advisor on Waste Management and Environmental Sustainability places him in an influential advisory role within the Presidency as Zimbabwe seeks to modernise waste management systems and promote environmental sustainability.
Leave a Reply