Inundation Persists in Bonanjo, Douala

The weekend and Monday morning rainfalls left much to desire in most neighbourhoods.

It is Monday November 18 morning in the administrative heartbeat of the economic capital, Bonanjo. The road stretch along the Douala City Council building has a newly planted decor, imposed by the early morning rains that beat on the Port city before dawn. Adjacent to the Littoral Governor's Office, one part of the road is covered by a pool of rain water, which has over flown the gutters. Vehicles and pedestrians have a hard time crossing this area, as the former are bound to "borrow" the other lane while the latter is obliged to pass round the public garden in order to reach the other end of the road.

A few metres away, at the entrance to the presidential palace near the central post office roundabout, a similar picture is present. Here, stagnant water cuts across the road, and its presence according to experts is detrimental to the tar. With other points like the Military Tribunal Roundabout facing a similar fate, works are ongoing along the Avenue De Gaulle for the construction of ditches, after recurrent floods along this area. Talking to some road users, CT gathered that the situation is relatively better compared to the past where almost every corner of Bonanjo suffered from the effects of heavy rainfall. However, the need for the complete eradication of stagnant waters in these points is imminent, in order to pre-empt its devastating effect on the tarred stretch as witnessed in some areas today. Which activity, the Douala City Council has the responsibility to uphold.

Most parts of Douala, it would be noted, are exposed to continual inundation at the slightest raindrop. In areas like the Bilonguè, Oyak, and Dakar neighbourhoods, people sleep with "one eye" open, for fear of incoming water after rainfall. Over the years, huge human and property losses have been recorded, especially in marshy areas.