Geo Pomona Delegation Explores Waste Management Solutions in Lesotho
A delegation from Geo Pomona Waste Management, led by Engineer Amos Marawa, the Deputy Chief Secretary in Zimbabwe’s Office of the President and Cabinet, is currently in Lesotho to help improve the country’s waste management systems. During their visit, the team met with Lesotho’s Prime Minister, Right Honourable Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane, at the State House in Maseru.
Prime Minister Matekane expressed his appreciation for the innovative solutions proposed by Geo Pomona Waste Management to address Lesotho’s long-standing waste management challenges. Lesotho has been operating without a landfill, relying on exporting hazardous waste to neighboring South Africa. Residents of Maseru, the capital city, live in close proximity to the Tsosane dumpsite, which has been in use since the 1980s, exposing them to significant health hazards.
Site Visits to Address Challenges
The Zimbabwean delegation, alongside officials from the Maseru City Council and local residents, toured the Tsosane dumpsite and a proposed landfill site at Tsoeneng. The visit aimed to provide stakeholders with a clearer understanding of the extent of the waste management issues and identify actionable solutions.
This visit follows the recent Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State tour of the Geo Pomona Waste Management site in Zimbabwe, which showcased successful approaches to waste management that could be replicated in other countries within the region.
Regional Collaboration
The delegation’s visit highlights the importance of regional collaboration in addressing shared environmental challenges. Geo Pomona’s expertise in waste management offers an opportunity for Lesotho to modernize its systems, improve public health, and reduce environmental risks associated with poorly managed waste.
As discussions progress, it is hoped that Lesotho will adopt sustainable waste management practices inspired by Zimbabwe’s successes. This partnership may mark a turning point for the Kingdom’s environmental health and urban development strategies.
