BULAWAYO, ZIMBABWE — The political war over Bulawayo's waste management contract has taken a dramatic turn after Mayor David Coltart was recalled from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), raising fresh questions about the future of the city's refuse collection services and the growing influence of politically connected business interests.
In a letter dated 7 October 2026 and received by the Ministry of Local Government on 9 October, the CCC faction led by Mbuso Siso informed Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe that Coltart, the Ward 4 councillor, had "ceased to be a member" of the party.
The faction asked the minister to invoke Section 129(1)(k) of the Constitution, which provides for the removal of a legislator or councillor who ceases to belong to the political party under which they were elected.
But the timing of the recall has fuelled suspicion, with Coltart having been at loggerheads with fellow councillors over the proposed involvement of Geo Pomona Waste Management in Bulawayo.
WAS REFUSING GEO POMONA THE MAYOR'S BIGGEST MISTAKE?
At the centre of the controversy is Geo Pomona Waste Management, a company fronted by businessman Dilesh Nguwaya, who has been reported to have close links to President Emmerson Mnangagwa's family.
The company has announced plans to expand its operations across Zimbabwe's provinces, with Bulawayo emerging as another battleground over its proposed waste management involvement.
Coltart resisted the company's entry into Bulawayo, while a group of councillors reportedly favoured engaging the firm.
The dispute intensified as the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) and the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) reportedly urged the city to engage Geo Pomona.
For critics of the proposed arrangement, the mayor's removal raises an uncomfortable question: was Coltart being punished politically for refusing to support a controversial business deal?
There is, however, no independently established evidence in the information provided that the recall was orchestrated specifically to secure a Geo Pomona contract.
HARARE'S US$3 MILLION WARNING TO BULAWAYO
Bulawayo residents have every reason to pay close attention to developments in their city.
In Harare, the Geo Pomona arrangement has attracted intense public scrutiny, with the capital reportedly paying close to US$3 million per month for refuse collection and street cleaning.
Questions surrounding the costs, transparency and value for money of the arrangement have made the deal a lightning rod for criticism.
Now, with Coltart out of the way politically, residents fear Bulawayo could face similar pressures to accept a deal they have not been adequately consulted about.
Will the city insist on a transparent procurement process, competitive pricing and clear performance guarantees, or will political manoeuvres determine who manages its waste?
For ordinary residents struggling with municipal charges and service delivery challenges, the consequences could extend well beyond City Hall.
FROM DENIAL TO RECALL: WHAT CHANGED?
The recall follows months of tension between Coltart and the CCC faction associated with Sengezo Tshabangu.
The mayor had reportedly faced mounting pressure after snubbing a meeting officiated by Paul Tungwarara, an advisor to President Mnangagwa.
When reports of a possible recall first emerged, Tshabangu reportedly dismissed the claims in comments to CITE, arguing that the CCC could not unilaterally remove Coltart under the Urban Councils Act.
Yet the faction has now moved to recall him, a development likely to intensify questions about the party's internal authority and the legal basis for its decisions.
The constitutional process governing recalls, the faction's standing and any potential legal challenge could become central to the next phase of the dispute.
COLTART IS NOT THE ONLY CASUALTY
The faction has also moved against four other opposition politicians.
In separate letters addressed to Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda and Senate President Mabel Chinomona, it recalled:
Ivumile Kucaca Phulu — Bulawayo Senator.
Surrender Kapoikilu — Bulawayo Central MP.
Corban Madzivanyika — Mbizo MP.
Togarepi Zivai Mhetu — Epworth North MP.
The latest recalls add to a prolonged wave of expulsions and recalls conducted in the CCC's name since October 2023.
The political consequences have been significant, with opposition representation in Parliament and local authorities repeatedly disrupted, while ZANU-PF has benefited from divisions and vacancies within the opposition.
For a movement that emerged promising an alternative to ZANU-PF's long-standing dominance, the repeated recalls have become a major source of controversy.
WHO REALLY BENEFITS FROM COLTART'S EXIT?
The central issue is bigger than the fate of one mayor.
Bulawayo now faces a critical test: will its elected representatives prioritise residents' interests, transparent procurement and affordable municipal services, or will political factionalism and pressure from powerful commercial interests shape the city's decisions?
Coltart's critics may argue that a mayor must work with fellow councillors and remain accountable to his party. His supporters, meanwhile, may see the recall as a troubling development that risks sidelining resistance to a controversial corporate arrangement.
Neither interpretation should replace scrutiny of the actual contract, procurement records and the legal grounds for the recall.
But one thing is clear: when a mayor opposing a disputed business arrangement is recalled amid a bitter political feud, residents deserve answers.
Who stands to gain from the change in Bulawayo's political leadership? Will Geo Pomona now secure a foothold in the city? And who will protect ratepayers if the cost of refuse collection rises without a corresponding improvement in service delivery?
THE BIG QUESTION: IS BULAWAYO'S WASTE MANAGEMENT DISPUTE ABOUT CLEANING UP THE CITY — OR ABOUT WHO GETS TO CASH IN?
Green Galaxy Media — Saying it as it is.
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