Self-imposed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Secretary-General Sengezo Tshabangu has thrown his weight behind the Geo Pomona waste management project, demanding that Bulawayo City Council finalise and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the company.

Tshabangu described the Harare-based waste management facility as one of Zimbabwe’s biggest achievements, saying Bulawayo should embrace the initiative to address its persistent waste disposal challenges.

Speaking during a visit to Geo Pomona, Tshabangu said the proposed partnership could help tackle pollution from the Ngozi Mine dumpsite, which he described as an environmental time bomb threatening residents of the country’s second-largest city.

“This is the best thing we’ve ever produced in Zimbabwe. And it’s our thing. We should associate ourselves with what you guys have done,” he said.

He questioned why Bulawayo City Council had not yet signed an MOU with Geo Pomona despite what he said was an agreement in principle to introduce the project in the city.

Tshabangu said he had engaged the Minister of Finance over concerns that the partnership could impose additional financial costs on residents and was assured that arrangements would be made to cover the expenses.

“So there’s no burden at all, so why waste time?” he asked, adding that he had also engaged the Minister of Local Government to push for the project.

He said he had instructed Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart to visit the facility as part of efforts to advance the proposed partnership, expressing surprise that the agreement remained unsigned.

Tshabangu also recommended improvements to Geo Pomona’s waste-sorting process, urging management to introduce household waste separation by providing residents with bin liners to sort rubbish before collection.

He said sorting waste at household level would improve efficiency and increase the volumes processed at the plant.

Tshabangu insisted that the proposed Bulawayo partnership was effectively agreed in principle, declaring, “Get it from me. It’s a done deal.”