Staff Reporter

Government has pledged to offer employment and relocate to habitable homes, 512 families currently living at Pomona dumpsite.

Speaking at the Geo Pomona Waste Management Media tour held this afternoon General Manager, Mr Enea Murataj said that the project would see the more than 500 people being employed, including those that have been scavenging on the site. He said the company would tap into their vast experience in waste sorting and management.

“The squatters currently at the Pomona dumpsite would be the first to be employed as they have vast experience with waste sorting and waste management, some of them have spent over 10 years picking recyclable garbage at the site,’’ said Mujataj.

One of the squatters, Jeremiah Mhaka, expressed total gratitude to the establishment of the project as he said that it was going to help change their livelihoods through employment creation. He mentioned that without having the necessary qualifications needed to acquire a decent job, this opportunity was best for them.

“Tine mufaro wakanyanya kuva nemukana wekushanda matakakurira uye zvatine ruzivo nazvo. Zvanga zvichinetsa kuti tiwane mabasa kunze uko nekusakwanisa kudzidza, tinotenda huremende nekuvhura mukana,” he said

Responding to questions from journalists during the tour, Delish Nguwaya stated that the Government was going to ensure a suitable relocation of the 512 families living on the dumpsite. The allocation of alternative land in cluster houses will soon begin.

“The 512 families living in the dumpsite will be re-located to Government houses like those in Dzivarasekwa and the Government is ready to acquire this alternative land for them,” he said.

The Geo Pomona Waste Management Project is progressing well as the ground clearing is already in play. A significant area has been cleared so far despite the CCC’s attempt to disrupt the progress. The project is expected to be complete in five years.