Traders bring Bamenda to stand still

There was pandemonium in Bamenda Tuesday as hundreds of traders took to the streets in protest against an imminent increase in market stalls rents by the Bamenda City Council.

The Cameroon Journal gathered that the traders were equally protesting the high rate of theft and insecurity as well as problems related to hygiene and sanitation in markets across the city of Bamenda.

The Protesters who began the demonstration early morning Tuesday wielded placards condemning the imminent increase in rents which they say the city council is poised to enforce in the days ahead.

The protesters were reportedly traders from the Nkwen and Ntarinkon markets as well as those carrying out businesses along the Bamenda Commercial Avenue, food market and Hospital roundabout.

During the protest which grounded circulation in Bamenda, the main entrance into Bamenda was blocked at Up-station as traders from main markets in the North West regional capital, stormed the governor’s office chanting protest songs against the planned increase.

We learnt that during a recent Bamenda City Council session, the councillors had deliberated and agreed to increase market sheds rents from FCFA 4000 to FCFA 7500 and for others to FCFA 10.000 up from FCFA 5000. Though the council decision was yet to be approved by the supervisory authority, the Senior Divisional Officer for Mezam, the traders took to the streets promising such a decision could only be implemented “over their death bodies.”

In a statement released as the demonstration ensued, the Secretary General at the Bamenda City Council, Jude Waindim, said the protest was uncalled for given that the market rents had not been tampered with. He told The Cameroon Journal via telephone that: “I just made public a press declaration on the position of the Bamenda City Council.

Pending a proper re-examination of deliberation to implement Law No. 2009/019 of 15 Dec 2009 bearing on Local Fiscal System, which deliberation has not even yet been approved by the supervisory authority, the old rates remain in force.”

At the Governor’s office, where the protesters marched to, brandishing placards bearing varied messages, the North West Chief Executive told them to maintain calm while their grievances are looked into. The governor, accompanied by Mezam SDO, later held a crisis meeting with representatives of the traders and some other local authorities.

Shortly after the meeting, the traders all agreed to return to their business premises while waiting for a final say on the matter from authorities.