Staff reporter

Acting Mayor of Harare City Council, Mayor Stewart Musarurwa Mutiza has clarified on the contentious issue regarding the payment of garbage from Pomona Dumpsite.

Addressing the press during a tour to inspect progress made at the dump site, Mayor Mutiza explained that payments for the disposal of garbage would be made as a once off payment after a full operational year. All the dump trucks that enter the dump area would only be recorded for administration purposes.

“With reference to the issue of payment, this is a project and we are part of the project, we are part of the deal. As part of our equity, we are going to be supplying the deal with all the rubbish from this city and all the rubbish will be paid for as an entry fee. What is in the agreement is a yearly payment which we are going to pay as equity in terms of our entry fees.”

The Mayor also added that council will also receive proceeds from the sale of electricity generated at this plant. Revenue collected will also help to capacitate City of Harare in paying its day to day expenses.

 “We are a partner to this deal; we are going to share the spoils, where the waste to energy is going to generate close to 25M and we sell to the national grid, the proceeds will be shared at the end of the day.

“It was not only a City of Harare issue, but the discussion was tabled at national level where the Attorney General’s office was the legal adviser and also chairing the frame work of the contract itself,” said Mayor Mutiza.

City of Harare will also receive a mixed range of about 40-50 refuse compactors, Front-end loaders and other necessary equipment which will be purchased by Geogenix to help the council meet its target of rubbish collection and disposal.

The residents of Harare were assured that they will not see their current rates affected in any way by this deal. Mayor Mafume also shared his excitement and optimism on the results and standards this deal will bring.

Meanwhile, the nation will benefit through the introduction of 25MW electricity which will be supplied into the national grid from this recycling site at a small price.

Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa was accompanied by officials from EMA, ZETDC, GEOGENIX, and Ministry of Energy.