Zimbabwe is set to revolutionize its waste management system with the installation of a state-of-the-art sorting plant in Harare, utilizing advanced European technology. Geo Pomona CEO, Mr. Nguwayo, announced during a site tour on Thursday that the plant’s installation, led by experienced Turkish engineers, will be completed by the end of February.
He highlighted the significance of this development in transforming waste management practices across the country.
“This new technology, sourced from Europe, will set a new standard for waste management in Zimbabwe. By February, we aim to finish this sorting plant. We want all cities in Zimbabwe to adopt similar technology so that we have a unified and efficient way of handling waste across the country. No one wants to live in an environment polluted with waste,” said Mr. Nguwayo. He emphasized the broader vision of replicating this model nationwide to ensure a consistent waste management system that addresses global challenges. The project has also sparked international interest, with technical teams from other countries expressing a desire to visit Zimbabwe to learn from its innovative approach.
A Mutare council official, who also participated in the tour, shared insights into their city’s waste management progress and challenges. The official explained that Mutare has made strides in monitoring groundwater quality and addressing hazardous waste management but still faces challenges in quantifying waste collected due to the absence of weighbridge technology. “Currently, we cannot measure the exact quantum of waste brought to the landfill because our trucks do not use weighbridges. While we know the quantity collected by our own trucks, other waste remains unquantified, leaving a gap in our data,” the official said.
Mutare has developed systems to monitor groundwater quality, but the next step is to establish a leachate treatment plant. “This tour has shown us advanced technologies that are more efficient than traditional methods. Unlike older practices, such as digging large water containers and planting specific vegetation to process heavy metals, these new technologies are faster and more effective,” the official added.
The Harare sorting plant is expected to set the benchmark for waste management in Zimbabwe, and there are plans to replicate the technology across all provinces. The goal is to ensure that all cities adopt similar advanced systems to manage waste effectively and sustainably.
By integrating cutting-edge technology with local waste management strategies, Zimbabwe is positioning itself as a leader in addressing global waste challenges.
