Douala Re-launches Sanitation Operation

The operation to eliminate any form of disorder in Douala that was relaunched on May 21, 2012, was presented to the press on Wednesday May 23, 2012 by the Douala City Council (DCC). This follows a study of the phenomenon in which 75 types of public indiscipline were identified as forestalling the development of the city.

The fight, which involves all residents and forces of law and order, will be guided by a synergy of sustained action. "We have reached a stage whereby the threatening phenomenon has to be fought on a daily basis in a sustained manner. We'll do this in collaboration with government, security forces, mayors, and traditional authorities," Government Delegate, Fritz Ntone Ntone, told reporters in Douala on Wednesday, May 23.

The cases of disorder include illegal occupation of public places, noise, poor waste disposal and the unauthorised pasting of posters and communiqués on advert boards and walls. Others are non-compliant commercial motorbike riders, potholes, ageing public infrastructure, the transformation of streets into permanent markets, illegal buildings and the setting up of residential attachments and motor parks, gridlocks and acts of vandalism on electricity cables, amongst others.

Before kick-off, DCC officials are holding sensitisation meetings as well as discussions with companies, trade unions, associations, the civil society, chiefs and quarter heads in a bid to get their cooperation and encourage responsible citizenship. The approach, DCC sources say, constitutes a major innovation in this round of operation.

The operation will start in neighbourhoods such as Rond Point Deido, Ndokoti, Village and New Bell where the nagging phenomenon is most noticeable. "We want an open and airy city. We are doing much sensitisation but those who continue to be stubborn will be sanctioned. Cracking down is an extreme measure and will only be used as a last resort," Ntone Ntone pointed out.