Hundred of angry Bamenda market women and men rose up against the continuous increase on market rates as imposed by the City Council authority and stage a protest march to the governor’s office where they presented their case. In order to seek redress to their plight, these market women blocked the Governor’s junction on Tuesday July 12, 2016 shouting a war cry that the Government Delegate Must Go while the forces of law and order look the other way.
Their disgust stem from a skyrocketing increase of market tolls from FCFA 300 per week to FCFA 500 and market sheds raised from FCFA 10000 and 8000 to FCFA 20500 threatening to increase further after paying FCFA 200,000 each to the City Council as deposit without any receipt. The law states that rents can only be increased after ten years and former Government delegate Tazong Abel Ndeh, raised it from FCFA 4000 to 5000. Mr. Vincent Ndumu Nji came in and doubled it to FCFA 10000 a month without any pity and today he is doubling it to FCFA 20500 which has ignite the anger provoking a peaceful march to administration. According to these women and men in business within the Bamenda City, these high rates are tacit move to send all of them out of business and the women lamented that they borrowed huge amounts from credit unions to set up businesses which turn over are very slow to make profit. These high market rates are coming to make things worst for them.
Hours after a consultative talks with market leaders, the Permanent Secretary at the Governor’s office, Absalom Monono came out to address the heavy crowd of market women. He asked the market women that after consulting with the City Council authorities behind close doors they resolved that old rates be maintained while they look in to what the city council is asking them to pay as new rates. Hence market shed rates would be maintained on the old rate of FCFA 10000 and 8000 and that market tolls would hence remain at FCFA 300 per week.This declaration by the Permanent Secretary ignited delight in the market women who jumped in happiness heaping praises on the Governor for coming to their rescue.Ndeh Frederick President of Progressive Bamenda Traders Association, PROBATA at the Main market lauded the administration for heeding to their plight and promised that traders wont hesitate going back on the streets if the City Council doesnot heed to instruction of respecting the old rates.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary of the City Council, Waindim Jude told the Press that after consulting with the administration they have resolved to revert to the old rates while they carry out studies in to the deliberation by the City Councilors which duly endorsed by the Government Delegate and forwarded to the supervisory authority for approval for new rates to take effect and that he hopes this would lay to rest all misgivings and manipulations that are taking place already. In contradiction to this statement that councilor deliberated and voted that bill, Senior Councilor Chimasa Lawrence of the SDF intimated that the said deliberation was not approved by the City Councilors saying when he raised the issue discouraging the attempt to increase tolls and rent, the Government delegate replied that they can not leave from the bush and go back to the bush again. Another Senior Councilor Mutary Hamisu even reminded the Government Delegate that he is taking such a stand because he does not buy from the markets to know the plight of market women and traders. On his part he said any action contrary to what SDF councilors are proposing would attract unwarranted consequences from the public and today the market women came out in protest when the government delegate decided to snoop Councilors.On her Part National Chairperson of CPP, Edith Kah Walla spoke to the protesting market women on phone giving her support to their action but cautioned that it should be non-violent. Chairman Fru Ndi of the SDF is yet to make a statement on this matter though calm has return in Bamenda with business as usual.
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