Botanic Gardens land has not been sold - Fako SDO

News of the alleged sale of a parcel of land inside the Limbe Botanic Gardens took every one by storm last week when it was made public by Chief Epupa Samuel Ekum, a concerned citizen and custodian of the tradition of Fako.

The Senior Divisional Officer for Fako, Zang III was also swept off his feet as a local tabloid carried the story accusing him and the present Governor of the South West Region, Benard Okalia Bilai as being behind the alleged sale of the national property and identity to the people of Limbe.

In a spontaneous reaction after the publication, the SDO for Fako called a press conference to make things open and clear the air. During the press conference at his office, Zang III brought out the complete file of the land and its project and presented it to the press.

The Origin According to documents procured by press men, in January 1, 2012, a business magnate, Achu Lifu Roland Cho, wrote a letter requesting for land for the construction of a leisure park in Limbe and in conformity with Prefectoral Order No 56/2012 OF 20/02/2012, signed by the then SDO for Fako, Bona Ebengue Francois, a site board commission was formed with the SDO for Fako or his representative as chairman.

Other members included the Divisional officer of Limbe I, Government Delegate of the Limbe City Council, Divisional Delegates of Housing, State Property, Public Works and three chiefs of services for lands, surveys and state property.

On March 9, 2012, the commission under took a visit to the site. During the site visit, the chairperson of the commission requested Mr Achu Roland to substantiate his application why the state has to locate a public property to him for his project.

According to the minutes of the commission, Achu Roland said he intends to invest about FCFA 250 Million for the construction of a leisure park; build a bridge made up of glass, build embankments on both sides of the river and clean the river bed for leisure and swimming.

He equally said almost all of these constructions will be done using semi-permanent materials. After some worries about the 25 meters limit prescribed by the law and the need for other stakeholders in the management of the Limbe River to be involved, the commission convened another meeting.

The next meeting that held on July 12, 2012 saw the applicant presenting a sketch map and said contrary to talks that he had by passed the Limbe City Council by not showing them the detail project document, he was ready to do so if the land measuring 3,400 meters square is awarded to him.

Commission satisfied According the minutes of the second site visit, a total of 3,400 meters square of land Public Property located on the banks of Limbe River has been allocated in principle for the construction of a leisure park.

The applicant was also told to contact the Divisional Service of Surveys for Fako for the demarcation and preparation of the plan of the area. It was also said that it was the approval of the City Council that will lead to the transmission of his project to hierarchy.The applicant was also informed to contact the Divisional Delegation of Environment and Nature Protection for an Environmental Impact report.

In conclusion, “the Commission hereby recommends for approval of a surface area of three thousands, four hundreds square meters of public landed property for the construction of a leisure park on the banks of the Limbe River by Mr Achu Lifu Roland Cho.”

The minutes were signed by Bona Ebengue Francoise, SDO for Fako at the time, the Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council, Motanga Andrew Monjimba, Divisional Officer of Limbe I at the time, Tsanga Fie Zean Paul and Divisional Delegates and Chiefs of service who were members in the commission. Minister gives authorisation Almost a year later, precisely on May 8, 2013, the Minister of State Property and Land Tenure signed an Arrete No. 000309/y.2.5/MINDCAF/SG/D1/D1 of 08/May/2013 titled, Authorisation to temporary occupy a piece of public property in Down Beach.

In its article 1 it gives Achu Roland Cho the right to use the piece of land as demarcated. In its article 2, it obliges the individual to construct only with temporal materials and that the authorisation lasts for five years which can be terminated or re-considered.

Article three of the minister’s decision explained that annually, the applicant will be paying the sum of FCFA 6,800,000 every January 2 to the Divisional Delegation of Lands in Fako.

Where is Zang in all these? It is with this background that the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako, Zang III wondered how he came in to the matter. “You have seen the documents, all these happened even before I was appointed Senior Divisional Officer for Fako” he said.

The furious Zang grabbed the files and quizzed journalists if they have seen his signature on any of the documents. He then moved on to say there are a series of people who are out to sabotage him and the Governor of the South West Region. “If they continue I will react and they will not like to witness the out come of my reactions” he said.

Meanwhile, the Second Assistant SDO for Fako, Madam Nko’O Ella who represented former SDO, Bona Ebengue during the site board commission wondered how any one would think that the administration will sit and watch a piece of public property sold to an individual, worst, a national property.

The administrator made references to the land law and concluded that, nobody can have a land certificate over public property in Cameroon and that Fako is not an exception.

Business magnate reacts In the heat of all these, The SUN also gathered that the applicant, Achu Roland, the General Manager of NEPTUNE Marine International Company had written to the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako, Zang III on November 5, 2014.

The letter, a copy of which THE SUN procured reads as follows “Following our last meeting concerning the piece of land at the Botanic Gardens which was rented to me by the state for development of an attractive park for the interest of tourism and the beauty of the town, I here by declare that the piece of land measuring 3,400 meters square was not sold but was rented to me by the state.