Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni
The city sincerely apologises to its customers who have been affected by the thick smoke. Our hearts are with the families staying close to the dumpsite whose health is being affected by the smoke.
We are in the middle of a battle to put down the raging fire fully aware of the dangers caused by the huge thick smoke coming from the dumpsite.
The fire was noticed around 0200hrs on Sunday. The actual cause of the fire is not known but suspicions are that it was caused by excessive heat.
We have activated a multi-stakeholder action team to help contain the fire. The team is on the ground right now. We continue to appeal for additional support from stakeholders. The Pomona issue is everyone’s child.
We will expedite the adjudication and award of the waste to energy tender to allow for the speedy implementation of the project. The raging fire and the gases burning at Pomona are enough testimony of the abundance of the gas for the waste to energy project.
Residents and businesses are urged to separate their waste at source and sell the garbage that has no business being taken to the dumpsite. There are companies and individuals ready to buy the waste. The bulk of the waste is recyclable and is therefore money.
We have temporarily closed the Pomona Dumpsite and are directing all garbage traffic to the Golden Quarry while we work hard to extinguish the fire.
We urge all motorists to avoid using Alps Road because of the attendant dangers of the thick smoke that has killed visibility and also the likelihood of a fire on the public transport.
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, the lingering question amongst you now is so what next after Pomona. We had plans to establish a landfill in the Mt Hampden area but our plans were shot down because the area houses the Charles Prince Airport. We are therefore looking for alternative land for the same. We have sensitised our parent Ministry of the same.
Post published in: Featured