Zimbabwe–Ghana waste management deal boosts recycling, refuse collection and green investment

HARARE — Zimbabwe and Ghana have signed a landmark environmental cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening refuse collection, recycling systems, and sustainable waste management in both countries, in a move analysts say could accelerate green investment and urban sanitation reforms across Africa. The deal was concluded during a three-day State visit to Ghana by Emmerson Mnangagwa, where he held bilateral talks with Ghanaian leader John Dramani Mahama.

The two presidents oversaw the signing of 10 agreements spanning trade, infrastructure, and environmental management. At the centre of the cooperation is a Memorandum of Understanding between Zimbabwe’s Geo Pomona Waste Management and Ghana’s Jospong Group of Companies, a firm widely recognised for large-scale waste solutions across Africa.

The agreement is expected to address mounting waste management challenges in rapidly urbanising cities such as Harare and Accra, where population growth has strained municipal services. According to the World Bank, sub-Saharan Africa is projected to see waste generation more than triple by 2050, making sustainable systems critical for public health and environmental protection.

Speaking after touring the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant, President Mnangagwa praised Ghana’s progress in modern waste processing.

“We have a similar plant in Zimbabwe, and I have been impressed at the levels of modernisation,” Mnangagwa said.

The Accra facility is considered a benchmark for integrated waste management, combining composting, recycling, and landfill diversion technologies, a model Zimbabwe is seeking to strengthen through the partnership.

Executive Chairman of Geo Pomona, Dilesh Nguwayo, said government backing has been crucial in scaling Zimbabwe’s waste infrastructure.

“Our project was granted National Priority status and the Government guaranteed it in support of investment. In door-to-door waste management, we collected more than 70,000 tonnes using our compactor trucks. We also have the biggest sorting plant in Southern Africa,” Nguwayo said.

Environmental economist Dr Gift Mugano told Southerton Business Times that such partnerships are essential for developing countries.

“Public-private partnerships in waste management improve efficiency, create jobs and reduce environmental hazards. Zimbabwe can benefit from Ghana’s experience in scaling community-based waste collection and recycling systems,” he said.

An Accra-based waste management officer, Kwame Asare, who witnessed the presidential tour, said the visit highlights growing African cooperation.

“We have seen real improvements here — cleaner communities and more jobs. If Zimbabwe adopts similar systems, it will make a big difference,” he said.

The waste management agreement forms part of a broader Zimbabwe–Ghana economic cooperation framework focused on trade expansion, industrialisation, and knowledge exchange. The Jospong Group of Companies operates more than 60 subsidiaries across Africa and Asia, specialising in sanitation, recycling, and environmental services. Its collaboration with Geo Pomona Waste Management is expected to facilitate technology transfer and skills development.

Experts say the deal aligns with continental goals under the African Union to promote sustainable development and climate resilience. As Zimbabwe battles mounting urban waste challenges, the partnership signals a shift toward modern, investment-driven solutions with the potential to transform refuse collection, boost recycling rates, and improve environmental sustainability.

Zimbabwe Ghana waste management deal