Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has directed the City of Harare to pay almost US$1 million for dumping trash at its own dumpsite in Pomona.
The Government reportedly forced the Harare City Council to sign a costly waste-to-energy deal with Geogenix BV, a Dutch company owned by an Albanian national.
The company’s local representative is Delish Nguwaya, an alleged business associate of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s family.
The US$344 million Pomona waste-to-energy deal has been widely criticised by residents and opposition CCC councillors.
In a letter addressed to Harare’s acting town clerk, Phakamile Moyo, and dated 16 June 2022, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government Zvinechimwe Churu ordered Harare City Council to pay the bill which has now reached US$780 000. Reads the letter:
I have taken note of the contents of the letter dated 10 June 2022 in which you state that you are unable to pay the invoice raised by GEO Pomona in the amount of USD$ 780, 890.00 for the month of May.
May I remind you that the action not to pay has serious consequences, not only with respect to Council’s obligations but also on Government who is the Guarantor of the project.
Failure to pay will result in the accumulation of debt through interest, arrears, penalties and fees due and payable.
The amount will become unsustainable should this stance be sustained beyond the May payment.
We request a response from yourselves that you will honour the bill for May as well as the other coming months as they fall due.
It is thus our expectation that the operations at Pomona should continue uninterrupted and Council should abide by the contractual terms provided for in the existing contract.
On Thursday, Harare City Council announced that it had appointed a Special Investigation Committee to look into the Pomona Waste to Energy project or agreement.
Council said members of the public who wish to make submissions on the project should contact the chairperson of the Special Investigation Committee, Councillor Ian Makone on:+263773 020 726.
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