20 bars in Yaounde closed down

Operators of some bars have been accused of not respecting the opening and closing hours.

“What do you want from us again? We have suffered enough. Please leave us alone! We have no answers to any of your questions. It does not please us to see that our businesses have been closed down for 30 days with all our equipment exposed to thieves and dust.” decried some operators

This is how a team of Cameroon Tribune (CT) reporters were received on September 29, at the Essos neighbourhood in Yaounde by an authority of “Le Printempts” snack bar which has a plug seal on its doors since September 12, 2014. The Sub-Divisional Officer to the Yaounde V subdivision, Mamadi Mahamat says 20 snack bars have been closed while 10 have been called to order.

The ongoing campaign to institute order and social tranquillity at the Yaounde V Sub-Division seems to be effective with the closure of about 23 snack bars in the vicinity.

The operation which cuts across several neighbourhoods in the area such as Essos, Mvog-Ada and Nguosso has not only hurt those concerned, but also has a significant impact on petite traders who complained of lack of customers and insecurity.

When CT arrived in front of the closed snack bar, the environment did not only look abandoned but serenity reigned with a day watchman looking after equipment on its veranda. The plug seal at the bar indicates that it has been sealed for 30 days beginning from the day the seal was placed according to a Prefectoral Order.

Further into the Essos neighbourhood, in front of another popular snack bar “Les Quebec” which has also been sealed since September 11, 2014 from 4:45 p.m. and 5:05 p.m. with a plug seal hanging on the doors of both buildings that host the snack bar.

No security agent was seen and it looked abandoned with dirt around it’s environs. The plug seal hanging on the door is no longer legible since rain water washed out the ink on the paper.

But information from the office of the Sub-Divisional Officer to Yaounde V indicates that those operating at “Les Quebec” violated the regulations governing drinking establishments in the country amongst other things.

At “Le Kirikou 7 etoiles” in Ngousso, workers were seen cleaning the front view of the bar although a plug seal was visible on the door of the bar. While the workers were not ready to talk to the press, one of them said “why has the Sub-Divisional Officer sent you people here. Is it to prove that he is doing his work?”

While some of the bars have been closed for disturbing social tranquillity, an inhabitant in the locality, Joel Tanyi, revealed that doing business around the closed bars has not been beneficiary especially as most of his clients were from the bars.

Although the usual traffic jam around these localities has reduced, inhabitants, particularly at the Essos neighbourhood, say attacks from thieves along the road have increased given that those who use to ensure security around the bars are no longer there.