By Regina Pasipanodya
Speaking before the delegates at Geo Pomona Waste Management, Minister Barbara Rwodzi spoke with conviction: “This is what we call sustainable tourism, sustaining communities through domestic tourism.”
Her statement went beyond a slogan. It recognized a community that was once defined by squatter camps, now finding dignity and opportunity through Geo Pomona’s vision.
For decades, Pomona was a place of makeshift shelters and children playing among heaps of discarded waste. However, since Geo Pomona Waste Management was established in 2022, the story has changed, moving from survival to empowerment, from neglect to renewal.
A Community Reborn
The once-neglected land now buzzes with activity: trucks transport waste to processing plants, workers in bright uniforms sort recyclables, and new departments thrive with energy.
Before Geo Pomona, many people living there relied on odd jobs, scavenging through dumpsites to find scraps to sell.
It was dangerous and humiliating. Today, some people work in the sorting department, earning a steady income and proudly wearing company badges.
These stories are not isolated.
Women who once relied on informal vending now have jobs and training in waste management technologies.
Geo Pomona has become more than a company; it is a builder of community.
Inclusivity at the Core
Minister Rwodzi’s applause was well-deserved.
Geo Pomona’s inclusivity shows in its hiring practices.
The company intentionally recruits from the local population, ensuring that the people who once lived in squatter camps are now part of the solution.
Dr. Dilesh Nguwaya, CEO and Chairperson, highlighted this during the minister’s tour: “Geo Pomona has always put the empowerment of local people at heart. Since our start, we have involved the community in the business. This is their story as much as it is ours.”
This inclusivity goes beyond jobs.
Through its Corporate Social Responsibility programs, Geo Pomona has invested in community health, educational support, and environmental awareness campaigns.
Green Tourism: A New Narrative
What makes Geo Pomona’s story unique is its connection to sustainable tourism. Waste management is seldom linked with tourism, yet here it serves as a showcase of green innovation.
Visitors touring the facility do not just observe recycling processes; they experience a model of how communities can thrive when sustainability is prioritized.
For international visitors, the site reveals Zimbabwe’s commitment to sustainability.
For locals, it shows that tourism can be about more than safaris and resorts; it can be about people, dignity, and transformation.
A Model for Sustainable Futures
Geo Pomona’s journey is more than a local success; it is a model for how corporate responsibility can align with community empowerment. By combining inclusivity, sustainability, and tourism into one narrative, the organization has redefined what waste management can mean. Minister Rwodzi’s excitement reflects a broader truth: when businesses invest in people, communities transform.
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