Over the past few years, the Yaounde Municipal Lake and its environs have become a destination many of the capital city's residents would not like to visit. Even though the lake is supposed to be a sight attraction to the inhabitants and visitors, it no longer serves that purpose. The lake has become a hideout for thieves and a place for mischievous acts.
Any visitor to Yaounde will go back home with sad memories of the poor and unhealthy state of the lake. The lake has become a refuse dump for corpses, dirt and other forms of garbage. As a result, the dirt blocks the water outlet and prevents free flow of water from the lake. Apart from that, some people defecate around the surroundings rendering the area more unpleasant. On one part of the lake, some make-shift restaurants commonly called "Tourne-dos" are located. Efforts by the Yaounde City Council to chase away these traders have been futile. However, plans to rehabilitate the Yaounde Municipal Lake are in the pipeline.
The Director of Urban Development in the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, Armand Romuald Ndjiba Bami said the rehabilitation will be done in two phases - cleaning and rehabilitation. He said the first phase has already been done with the rehabilitation of the Water Treatment Plant at Messa, Yaounde As for the second phase, he said studies have already been completed and the ministry is looking for funding. He explained that the second phase will consist of transforming the lake into a tourist site. "We want the area to be attractive," he said. At the main outlet of the lake, some renovation work is going on. Reports say the work is being carried out by the Yaounde City Council. A source at the Yaounde City Council said the renovation is aimed at clearing the water passage which had been blocked by dirt in order to ease the flow of water out of the lake.
