Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume has reiterated that Harare City Council (HCC) wanted its Pomona dumpsite back instead of lending it to Geogenix BV for 30 years.
Geogenix BV is a Netherlands-based investor identified by the local government ministry to construct a 22MW power plant at the site.
It was given its full ownership at the commencement of the US$344 million Waste-Energy deal three months ago.
Local Government and Public Works minister July Moyo was identified as the man behind the multi-million-dollar deal, which is being fronted by Dilesh Nguwaya who is said to have close links with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s family.
Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa, recently claimed that July Moyo got 10 per cent from the deal.
Addressing reporters at Town House this Wednesday, Mafume said individuals championing the deal will be dead after the 30 years it is supposed to run. He reiterated the remarks he made yesterday:
We have not climbed down on the Pomona deal, we want our dumpsite back,” said Mafume.
We do not have the money even if we were to pay, we will not allow council funds to be utilised for a purpose that is not with the residents, nor will we allow devolution funds to be used for a priority that is not determined by the council.
I want to assure residents and I want to make it clear that they are not paying (the debt) with council funds, and they are not paying with devolution funds. We do not agree to this contract, and we want the dumpsite back for the residents.
There is currently nothing at the site, besides an eight-roomed cottage and a jojo tank. There is no investment yet and we are expected to pay such large amounts of money.
This dumpsite was bought by the people of Harare in 1985, thereabouts. Where have you ever heard of a landlord paying for his own land.
Harare city council will be looking at an over US$2 million bill by end of this month after failing to settle the US$780 000 and US$1 million being demanded in previous months.
The agreement compels the local government authority to pay a daily US$22 000 bill whether it dumps waste or not. The figure will be doubled after 12 months.
Mafume said Harare prioritised its devolution funds for the purchase of ambulances, not Pomona adding that they “will exhaust all legal routes to reverse” the deal.