allAfrica.com: Cameroon: Bolstering Road Construction (Page 1 of 1)

An unnoticeable but very significant event occurred in the nation's construction sector last Wednesday. The Minister for Public Works, Bernard Messengue Avom and the General Manager of the China National Construction Machinery Corporation, Li Hepeng signed an agreement by which the rolling stock of the Cameroonian National Civil Engineering Equipment Pool, MATGENIE would be rehabilitated. This is a most revolutionary initiative taken by the government, especially when it is known how much of a harmful blow the difficulties of this important back-up company had made on the nation's road construction strategy. Mr Joseph Zambo, chairman of the board of directors of the ailing MATGENIE heaved an understandable sigh of relief as he watched the minister and the Chinese official append their signatures to the document which will certainly open new perspectives for road construction in the country. Cameroonians of below the 30year age bracket would hardly conjure the picture of the heydays of MATGENIE before its fall into the doldrums some 20 years ago.

This government parastatal ran a wide range of ultra-modern construction equipment which it readily hired out. It was most active on rural roads. Little wonder the beginning of its difficulties became even more felt in this sector with the privatisation of rural roads maintenance in 1996. Various prognosis on the origins of the difficulties of MATGENIE have almost invariably been attributed to managerial choices, with the reduction of government subsidies only coming in to give a coup de grace of sorts. Ensuing difficulties were therefore easy to figure : equipment in an advanced state of disrepair, lack of liquidity to buy new equipment, an unmotivated personnel among others. Before the privatisation of rural roads maintenance, MATGENIE was in full-bloom business as the state was in a proper disposition to pay for its services, even if such services were paid rather sporadically. With road construction virtually in private hands and equipment in bad shape, all conditions were now united to see a steady slump in the quality of the few roads built from 1996 and a clear decline in maintenance initiatives. Even the few conscientious entrepreneurs who sought the services of MATGENIE could only keep the equipment for a short time because of the high demand of the few units that remained in a relatively good condition. Consequently, jobs were hurriedly done without much regard for quality and sustainability. Moreover, the bigger construction companies, involved in major highway projects, would rather go for some of the surviving equipment of MATGENIE than import equipment which they could only use for specific projects and without having guarantees that they would continue winning big construction contracts.

The signing of the rehabilitation agreement of last Wednesday is a welcome relief for the road construction sector. In the coming months, one should expect a salutary revival of road projects, especially in a context where government is wont on making life less stressful for ordinary citizens, especially those living in the rural areas. One should in the very near future see huge quantities of agricultural produce get to ready markets in the urban areas because of the better access roads which the new arrangement will inevitably bring about.

Then there is the partner in question. China has proven to be a friend in deed as can be seen from the chosen areas of cooperation with Cameroon. So far, China carries a posture of friendship without a hidden agenda, cooperation without strings.

Cameroonians must avail themselves of the new opportunities offered by the rebirth of MATGENIE to better address poverty-alleviation initiatives.

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