Brenda Yufeh
3 March 2008
The sad days are over! In Yaounde, activities in all sectors have gone back to normal after last week's strike that caused fear and pain to many. The panic that gripped Yaounde inhabitants has gradually disappeared. Peace and calm is what inhabitants experience now.
Private and public cars as well as motor-bikes can be seen circulating. Travelling agencies have sprung back to life. The long distance trekking by inhabitants has ended with the presence of the forces of law and order in almost all the corners of Yaounde, Unlike 27 February 2008, where the Mokolo-Madagascar-Nkomkana-Tsinga neighbourhoods were the peak of violence, a veritable "no go" area for many, on 29 February, 2008, onlookers, observed the usual bustling that characterises that part of the town. The empty markets, particularly Mokolo and Madagascar markets have once more become a beehive of traders and sellers. Cars, as well as passers-by, could hardly make their way through the Mokolo market which was a deserted area for buyers and sellers during the strike days. While the forces of law and order took positions in strategic corners around markets, traders and buyers, went on with their usually activities. There are no traces of burning and shattering of items around markets. With a smile on many faces, some expressed happiness that "the vandalism observed some days back is finished, with peace and security that reigns in Yaounde, we can now come out and sell or buy food items". Mama Angel, trader in the Mokolo market said, adding that they were suffering. Given that she is a trader in plantains and has not been able to sell her goods for over three days, she lamented that most of the plantains were already ripe and getting bad.
Other commercial activities, as well as administrative and financial companies, have taken up activities like before. Banks had a great deal handling consumers as most of them were jammed packed with customers who wanted to withdraw money. The huge crowd of people was not only seen in banks, but also in shops and work places. At her job place last Friday, Monquie said "it has not been easy spending some days without working, living in fear, famine and terror; all is getting back to normal". The usually traffic jam observed in most junctions in the town of Yaounde are now visible. While a series of taxi drivers try to make their way through, so too are private car owners and motor-bike riders as well as pedestrians. To drive across the Mvog-Atangana Mballa and Mvog-Mbi junctions is like hell this time around. Call box owners along the road are also able to install their boxes to continue business. According to them, the traffic jam is an indication that all is well. The weekend was much calmer in Yaounde. From all indications, today will be more active and different with no more worries of a crisis.
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