On the strength of a decision of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, some 117 inhabitants of metropolitan Bamenda and neighbourhoods have received a total FCFA 220 million in compensation for land recovered in Bamenda III Sub-division to serve the Bamenda Free Industrial Zone.
Beneficiaries were served cash and cheques in the Nkwen Fon's Palace on May 24, 2012 with Mezam SDO, Mache Joseph Bertrand in the chair. Compensation received cover parcels of land, crops and houses with some beneficiaries taking home amounts that range from FCFA 200.000 through FCFA 10 million to FCFA 24 million. It emerged from the event that the Bamenda industrial zone covers some 43 hectares and will accommodate between 25-50 industries.
The General Manager of the Industrial Zone Development and Management Authority (MAGZI), Manon Christol Georges, who travelled to Bamenda for the event, was hailed for the methodical and transparent approach towards compensating occupants and facilitating the hitch-free process of establishing the free industrial zone in Bamenda. The Member of Parliament for Bamenda/Bali, Hon. Nchinda Forbi also took time off to salute the government for the creation, which according to him, is a solid base to develop Bamenda and surroundings. He urged the population to stand by and accompany MAGZI to establish the industrial zone that is expected to be a blessing with business and employment opportunities for the North West whose economy essentially hangs on petty commercial activities and agriculture.
