Peter Efande
20 March 2008
interview
Eseke Bende Ivo, South West Provincial Delegate of MINEPAT (Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development) throws more light on the First and Second phases of the PRSP.
What did the First Phase of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper , between 2003 and 2007, produce as results in the South West Province ?
The PRSP (Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper) is a very important document which tries to put in place the strategies on how Government has to carry out development. Between 2003 to 2007, every honest eye will attest that some important development has taken place in the South West Province in terms of infrastructure, providing the people with water, health centers, schools ...etc. Quite a lot was done though l would say not at 100 %. We feel the impact especially farm-to-market roads, health centers, water projects that have been realised, and many others. Generally in the South West, the PRSP report shows that some reasonable development took place.
If a lot of development has taken place, what is now the objective of this Second Phase that was launched in the South West Province a few days ago ?
I am not saying that the 2003 - 2007 PRSP succeeded totally. There were certainly some difficulties encountered during the execution of the First Phase. We call it PRSP Number One; now we are trying to get to PRSP Number Two. Actually, what we are doing now is meeting the people at the level of the grassroots to find out and evaluate the First Phase of the PRSP with them. Let them tell us the impact it has on them and what has been realised.
That's why the delegation from Yaounde is out on the field; its members have to move to the various divisions to meet the people. They are not only coming to stay at the provincial headquarters. That's why after the recent launching in Buea, the delegation members went to the divisions. It will be after this evaluation exercise that we can accurately say at what level we succeeded with the First PRSP.
During this Second Phase, what are your expectations ?
The delegation members are now on the field evaluating the impact of the development projects on the population as far as the First Phase of the PRSP is concerned. They will go and have consultations in Kumba, Mamfe, Menji, Bangem, Mundemba, Limbe and will finally hold a synthesis meeting in Buea before drafting the final report.
Some people say the poor road network is responsible for the failure of the First Phase of the PRSP. Is it true ?
No ! It will be an overstatement to say that the First Phase of the PRSP has failed because of roads. It is true that roads is the problem number one of the South West. And we cannot equally say that roads have not been constructed in the South West as far as the First Phase is concerned.
The construction of the Mutengene - Kumba road is going on, and some farm-to-market roads have been handled during the First Phase of the PRSP. But the people expect more because they say where the road passes development follows.
We all agree that a lot has to be done as far as roads are concerned. It doesn't mean that the First Phase of the PRSP has failed. No ! It hasn't met its 100 % target, that's why we want to evaluate to know what strategy to put in place as far as the Second Phase of the PRSP is concerned.
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