Why Douala demolition drive flopped

After the devastating floods that hit Douala last year, the Minister of Housing and Town Planning, Jean Claude Mbwentchou and the then Governor of the Littoral Region, Joseph Beti Assomo, instructed the Government Delegate to the Douala City Council, Dr Fritz Ntone Ntone, to embark on a massdemolition of houses thatare constructed on drainage linesin all the five municipalities of the Region.

The SDO of Wouri, Naseri Paul Bea, the DOs and Mayors were instructed to collaborate with the Government Delegate to ensure that the operation is a success.

The demolition programmestarted with the identification of houses constructed on drainage and risky zones and was proceeded by the demolition operationof some swampy neighbourhoods like Makepe Misoke in the Douala V Municipality.

The Douala City Council’s bulldozersalso descended on marked houses and other structures in other neighbourhoods.

There was total outcry by the affected persons, some local human rights groups and politicians also lashed outon the demolition drive, which forced the Council to order for its suspension.

Over 2500 Families Displaced

Commenting on the demolition exercise recently, Dr Fritz Ntone Ntone, disclosed that from the identification exercise that was carried out to ascertain houses build on drainage paths and risk zones, the demolition programme was to displaceover 2500 families.

“When the operation started, we reflected on the social impact of displacing over 2500 families and we resolved to suspend the exercise. We had to reflect on an alternative strategy to ensure that only few houses are demolished. The technical experts have now come up with an alternative, where only 1000 houses will be demolished in Douala.

Criticising the Douala City Council authorities for sacrificing town planning and public safety forpolitical exigencies,someDouala inhabitants hold that those whoflagrantlyviolate the Law by building houses on drainage lines and risk zones, do not deserve sympathy, since they are partly responsible for the flood that swept away peoples’ goods and caused untold suffering.

But to others, people who build in risk zones and drainage lines are generally the poor in the society and deservepublic sympathy and Government leniency and assistance.